Court refuses bail for two Nigerians in arms deal

Accra (Greater Accra) 2 Nov '99

An Accra Circuit Tribunal on Monday, refused bail for two Nigerians charged for illegally possessing a large quantity of arms and ammunition because Police have not completed its investigations.

Uzaek Uzondo Alo, a driver and Christian Obi, a farmer, who made their second appearance on Monday, have pleaded not guilty.

The tribunal, chaired by Mrs Frances Owusu-Arhin, ordered the Police to send the accused to the Aflao border, where they entered Ghana with the arms, to ascertain whether they had valid travelling documents.

It further ordered that, Police must find out if the accused persons had Ecowas Brown Card and permit, which covered the vehicle used to convey the arms into the country.

The tribunal made the orders when it turned down an application for bail by the counsel for the accused, Capt. Nkrabea Effa-Dartey (rtd) that the offence allegedly committed by his clients was not a first-degree felony for which bail could be refused.

Counsel pleaded that his clients have been in custody for two weeks and that they deserved to be given bail.

The case for the prosecution was that, on October 11, upon a tip-off, Police arrested the accused persons at a house at Tesano, in Accra and discovered 2,717 pieces of shotguns and ammunition concealed in a compartment of a vehicle bearing a foreign number.

Further search in the house led to the discovery of a 40-footer container with 276 pieces of shotguns and 10 cartons of single-barrel shotguns.

The prosecution said upon interrogation, the accused said it was one Kodjo, an accomplice at Tudu, in Acct, who sent them to the house and instructed them to convey the arms to Kumasi.

Hearing continues on November 15.

GRi../