Cocaine saga: AG fails to appear in court

The Attorney General's department on Monday failed to appear in court in the case involving six people who are being tried in connection with the exportation of 12.5 kilograms of cocaine to the UK by one Nayele Ametefeh.

This compelled the Circuit court in Accra to adjourn to Tuesday a ruling on a second application for bail for the suspects.

The decision of the court follows a reapplication for the liberty of the suspects by the defence counsels after the prosecution failed to turn up in court.

The court at its last sitting declined bail and adjourned the case to today to allow the state ample time to start trial.

However, no single representative of the attorney general was present in court when the case was called this Monday morning.

The defence reapplying for bail noted that it is incumbent on the prosecution to be in court on time, urging the court to grant bail to the suspects to enable them enjoy the yuletide.

The counsels intimated that the prosecution's inability to show up in court connotes their unpreparedness to try the case.

The suspects include a deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Abiel Ashitey Armah, Ahmed Abubakar and Theophilus Kissi all stationed at the Kotoka International Airport.

The rest are Sadalia Nuhu, Nana Akua Amponsah and Alhaji Mohammed Dawud, all business tycoons and friends to the convict Nayele Ametefeh.

Both Sadalia and Nana Akua are charged with conspiracy while the rest face a charge each for abetment.

All six have pleaded not guilty and remain in BNI custody.

Meanwhile, lawyer Frank Davies one of the defence counsels has expressed optimism of the court giving fair ruling on Tuesday in the interest of justice. 

He observed that the case is one of national interest and the state has been given enough time to commence trial.

GBC