Some of the suspects
Five military personnel and three civilians who are on detention in an alleged coup plot to overthrow the government have filed another application for bail.
This is the third time their counsel, Victor K. Adawudu, is attempting to secure bail for the clients who are currently in both military and police custodies.
Last November, an Accra High Court dismissed an application filed by the seven accused persons when the court presided over by Justice George Buadi held that they had been detained for less than two months and that could not constitute unreasonable delays in the trial.
Another court, presided over by Justice Georgina Mensah-Datsa, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge in a short ruling in December last year, also dismissed another bail application, saying the accused persons can re-apply if the prosecution unduly delays the case.
The instant application follows the grant of bail few weeks ago to senior police officer ACP/Dr. Benjamin Agordzo, who is also an accused person in the case.
He was granted GH¢500,000 self-recognizance bail by another court presided over by Justice Charles Ekow Baiden; and the prosecution said they intended to appeal against the court decision.
No Show
The application for the soldiers and civilians was supposed to be moved by the lawyer yesterday but it turned out that the court had not received the opposition to the application filed by the prosecution.
Hilda Craig, a Senior State Attorney, assisted by Winifred Sarpong, a Principal State Attorney, told the court that they were also not served by the defence lawyer with another application for the civilians in the matter.
The court presided over by Justice Ruby Naa Adjeley Quaison, therefore, urged the defence counsel to take steps to serve the state with the second application before Thursday, February 13, when the applications will be moved.
‘Coup’ Plot
Dr. Mac-Palm, a medical doctor, Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP/Dr. Benjamin Agordzo, as well as a senior officer, Col. Samuel Kojo Gameli are before the court for their alleged involvement in the coup attempt.
Other accused persons include Donya Kafui, aka Ezor, a local weapon manufacturer (blacksmith) from Alavanyo and Bright Allan Debrah Ofosu, aka BB or ADC – all civilians.
The military officers caught in the alleged coup plot apart from Col. Gameli are Lance Corporal Ali Solomon, Lance Corporal Sylvester Akapewu, Lance Corporal Seidu Abubakar and one WO II Esther Saan, aka Mama Gee, of the Military Academy and Training Schools (MATS) and also a civilian employee of the Ghana Armed Forces, Gershon Akpa.
The accused persons are facing five counts of treason felony, conspiracy, treason, abetment of treason felony and possession of explosives and ammunition without lawful excuse.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak