[ 2011-06-13 ]

Martin Amidu, Attorney-General & Minister of Justice

Family of Ya-Na takes on A-G for discounting Rawlings video
The family of the murdered overlord of Dagbon Ya
Na Yakubu Andani II has taken on the Attorney
General for suggesting that eyewitness reports
cannot be used as evidence to prosecute the case.


Government has indicated that it cannot use a
taped conversation between nephew of the late Ya
Na, Nantogmah Alhassan Andani and ambassador to
the Czech Republic, Victor Smith as evidence in
court.

Attorney General Martin Amidu told Joy News the
eyewitness report in the said tape is insufficient
to prosecute the case.

“So if there is any tape in the possession of my
office it is a tape of an interview between Victor
Smith and this gentle man. It is not a tape of
what happened on the precise day and time which
will give a clue to somebody doing something or
saying something or not. It is a tape of something
narrated to Victor by someone who claims to be
there. That tape cannot be direct evidence in a
court of law. It is a narration long after the
event. It is different from the type of tape in
law we say was made contemporaneously with the
event,” he explained.

Mr Amidu said he would be ridiculing himself
taking the tape to court to present before a judge
as evidence.

“I didn’t go to law school to be a cheap
populist doing things because I want to satisfy
individuals; we will do our best, as to the
decision that will be for the courts to make,”
he emphasized.

But the nephew of the late Ya-Na Nantogmah
Alhassan Andani, whose testimony is the subject of
debate walked into the studios of Joy FM to
challenge Mr Martin Amidu’s arguments.

He is convinced his information could lead to the
arrest of his uncle’s killers.

According to him the Attorney General’s posture
on the matter is unfair.

Nantogmah told Joy News’ Araba Koomson that
“Whatever [is] contained in that particular tape
between Victor Smith and I were evidence that I
saw at the scene.”

He claims he saw people burning the body of the
Ya-Na and all that is contained in his testimony
captured on video.

According to him if what is on the tape is not
evidence valuable enough for the prosecution, as
intoned by the AG, “then that is not our Justice
Minister; he is not standing for Justice.”

Source - MyjoyOnline

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