It is emerging that Adams Mahama, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Upper East Regional Chairman, mentioned the names of the suspects who allegedly poured the acid on him prior to his death.
According to Hajia Zainabu Adams, wife of the deceased, her husband described Gregory Afoko, the younger brother of the politician Paul Afoko and one Asabke Alangdi as those who poured the deadly substance on him – leading to his death.
Gregory Afoko is being tried on charges of conspiracy to commit crime and murder of the late Upper East Regional Chairman in May 2015.
Gregory has pleaded not guilty in a court hearing, constituted by a seven-member jury.
Adams Mahama died of extensive acid burns and shocked lungs (acute respiratory distress syndrome), an autopsy report has indicated.
Led in evidence by Chief State Attorney Matthew Amponsah at the opening of the murder trial yesterday, Zainab said she did not know the accused before the incident.
She stated that at about 7:30 am on the day of the incident, Adams set off in his Toyota pickup vehicle to inspect a hotel he was building along the Bolgatanga-Kumasi road.
Zainab said Adams returned about 11pm that day amidst shouts that he was “burning and dying” and that people should help him.
In the evidence of the trader who said she had married Adams for the past 26 years, she assisted her husband to come out of the vehicle naked.
She told the court, presided over by Justice L. L. Mensah, that as a result, she dashed into their room to pick a cloth to cover the nakedness of her husband.
“My husband returned home at 11pm crying in the car, saying I am dying, younger brother of the politician Paul Afoko and Asabke have poured a substance on me,” Hajia Adams told the court in Hausa.
The yells for assistance, she contended, attracted the attention of other people to the scene, adding that Adams asked her to call him one Thomas.
Zainab argued that the clothes Adams was wearing before he left the house was burnt beyond recognition and as such collected all and kept it in a rubber bag.
The court further heard that in the company of the said Thomas, and three other persons – Zaura, Mariama and Queen, Adams was sent to the Bolga Central Hospital.
Zainabu maintained that at the hospital he saw the flesh of Adams peeling off as nurses tried to attend to him.
She said there was power outage on the day of the incident in their house but the light on Adams pickup illuminated the place.
Hearing continues on October 11, 2016.
Gregory has been charged for conspiracy to murder and murder after the Attorney General (AG) had advised that he be tried for the murder of the NPP chairman while his accomplice, Asabke is still on the run.
However, Musa Issah, a third accomplice, was freed because there was no much evidence to connect him to the crime.
A gallon of acid was said to have been found at the home of the second suspect – Asabke Alangdi – prosecution has said.
Adams Mahama died a day after the incident. The case, which started in May 2015, has so far travelled for nine months now.
By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson
jeffdegraft44@yahoo.com