Mobila’s Death: Was There A Cover Up?

Claims by a section of the Ghanaian community that there were frantic efforts to cover up the brutal killing of Alhaji Issa Mobila has been given a shot in the arm.

Comments made by Lt. Col. W. Omane Agyekum, Commanding Officer on the report of the Board of Enquiry deny all the material facts and suggest that Mobila’s ribs were broken when he fell in the guardroom.
His comments are published below;

1. I accept the findings, opinions and recommendations of the Board. There is a lot of uncertainty around how the severe abrasions on Alhaji Issah Mobila’s body was caused.

The Alhaji was a supporter of the Andani faction in the Dagbon Chieftaincy dispute as well as somebody who was suspected of distributing arms and ammo to some people to kill or harm other residents of Tamale as part of a planned post elections violence.

Because of this stand that the Alhaji, who is a foreigner, had taken, he was likely to have had enemies who might have harmed him and inflicted marks on his body even before his arrest by the Civil Police.

2. Alhaji Mobila’s supporters and some section of the public even judged the military before the Pathologist examined the body. To them once the Alhaji was sent to the military guardroom, which meant he was tortured to death. Such persons having unlimited access to the Alhaji’s body could temper with it in order to implicate the military.

3. The source of the severe abrasions on Alhaji Mobila’s body is therefore uncertain and no soldier should be blamed for it since there is no evidence of any soldier inflicting harm on him.

It is most probable that Alhaji Mobila’s ribs were broken when he fell in the guardroom in an unconscious state and this led to the death. His death therefore is purely accidental.

W. OMANE AGYEKUM
Lieutenant Colonel
Commander Officer
31st December 04

Source: The Insight/Ghana