The trial of the case involving Yahuza Osumanu, a self-proclaimed businessman charged with robbing former 2nd Lady, Mrs. Matilda Yaaba Amissah-Arthur, will commence in the new legal year. This follows the completion of the Case Management Conference (CMC) on Thursday, June 20, 2024.
Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, the presiding judge, indicated that the parties should reconvene on July 24 to set trial dates for the 2024/2025 legal year, starting in October.
“CMC (Case Management Conference) is completed,” Justice Marfo stated. “If any further disclosures are necessary, leave will be granted to the requesting party,” the Court added.
Justice Marfo further noted, “We shall adjourn for pre-trial proceedings, during which we will agree on the specific time the trial will commence in the next legal year (2024/25).”
According to EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, the current legal year will end on July 31, 2024, after which the Judiciary will embark on a two-month legal vacation from August 1 to September 30, 2024.
Witnesses
On June 6, the prosecution filed their third batch of disclosures, which included evidential documents they intend to rely on to prove their case.
Amanda Awadey, a State Attorney, informed the Court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, “We are filing our third batch of disclosures this morning (Thursday).”
When asked by the Court about the contents of the latest disclosures filed, she responded, “Witness statements and some evidence we want to rely on.”
She added, “That should be the last batch, so my lady can give us a date to ensure that counsel is served.”
Additionally, the state attorney mentioned, “We have 9 witnesses,” when asked by the Court.
Background
Mrs. Matilda Yaaba Amissah-Arthur is the wife of the late Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, who was Vice President of Ghana from 2012 to 2016.
According to the prosecution, Yahuza Osumanu succeeded in robbing Mrs. Amissah-Arthur of various currencies, including GH¢3,000, USD 2,200, and fifty euros, as well as a gold watch and necklace valued at GH¢20,000 and GH¢5,000 respectively.
Yahuza, who faces 26 counts, including 20 counts of robbery and six counts of money laundering, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In addition to the former 2nd Lady, businessman David Adjaye and three others were also robbed by the accused at gunpoint.
The brief facts of the case stated that the complainants are Augustine Kwesi Okere, a businessman; Daniel Kwame Osafo and Tracy Osei-Hyeaman, a married couple; Mrs. Matilda Yaaba Amissah-Arthur; and Margaret Alice Shaw, a 76-year-old woman residing at Alexander Nest, Ridge, Accra.
The Prosecution stated that the accused, Yahuza Osumanu, is a self-proclaimed businessman residing at Pokuase-ACP.
Between the second quarter of 2023 and December 2023, the Police CID received several complaints of residential robberies committed by a single armed man around the Airport, Cantonments, Tesano, and Ridge.
On September 7, 2023, complainant Augustine Okere reported to the Airport Police that at about 2:30 am that morning, his residence at Kaeclea Court Apartments, Airport Residential Area, was robbed.
Upon receiving the complaint, a team of police personnel from the Airport Police Division was dispatched to the crime scene.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Murtala Inusah
