18 Western Togoland Separatists Granted Bail

The Yendi Circuit Court last Friday granted bail to the 18 persons suspected to be promoters and leaders of "Western Togoland" in the sum ranging between GH¢5,000 and GH¢10,000 each with one and two sureties each respectively.

Twelve out of the 18 suspects were granted bail in the sum of GH¢10, 000 each with two sureties each while six others who are the elderly among the suspects were granted bail in the sum of GH¢5,000 each with a surety each. All the 18 accused persons were also directed by the court to report to the Police in Bimbilla every two weeks pending the advice of the Attorney-General's office on the case.

The accused persons who have been charged with conspiracy to commit treason and treason, and whose pleas were not taken in court, appeared before the court presided over by Mr Justice Anthony Aduku Aidoo for the first time on December 30, 2019.

The accused persons who reappeared before the court last Friday were represented by three different counsels in the persons of Mr Halid Abdul Rauf, who represented eight of the suspects, Jonathan S. Lari, who represented six of the suspects and Esther Yindom, who represented four of them. The counsels made both oral and written applications for bail pending trial after the prosecution informed the court that investigations had been completed and the docket on the case forwarded to the Attorney-General's office for study and advice.

After listening to the various applications for bail, the presiding judge decided to grant bail to the accused persons. Hearing of the case has been adjourned to February 6, 2020.

Accused

The accused are Bagbila Nayemi, 57, farmer; Michael Dakoja, 37, a tractor operator; Emmanuel Uborifuni, 39 and Dawuni Kwaku Liforndor, 49, both teachers; Evan Nayimi, 25, a dispatch rider; Jato Nakoja, 23, unemployed; Gmachenbu Unaja, 70, a farmer; Tibene Mpoamo, 60, a farmer; Taabor Nyong, 75, a farmer, Tamanja Ugajah, 50, a farmer and Yawkuma Manyewu, 25, also a farmer.

The rest are Kwame Njomabi, 40; David Dakoja, 35 and Bimoti Mpoang, 30, all farmers and Joshua Nayeme.

Facts
The complainants in the case are the Bimbilla Police, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and other security agencies. The facts of the case are that Nayemi is the Chief of Dipa village, while Dakoja is a resident of Kpassa in the Oti Region.
 
Uborifuni and Liforndor are both teachers and resident at Kulkpeni and Jonayili respectively.

The Prosecution said Nayimi was a dispatch rider at Bedita Pharmacy based in Adabaraka in Accra but a native of Dipa village, while Jato was a senior high school leaver and a resident of Bilimado. The rest were all farmers from various communities within Bimbilla.

According to the prosecution, on December 27, 2019, the Bimbilla security picked up intelligence that the accused persons who were leaders and promoters of the so-called "Western Togoland," were holding a meeting at the Dipa village which was organised by Nayemi to solicit support for the creation of the new state from Ghana.

The police and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNl), together with the military proceeded to Dipa where they met the accused persons in a school building holding the said meeting and arrested them.

They were then brought to the Yendi Divisional Police Command headquarters for investigations.

The prosecution said during investigations, the accused admitted in their caution statements that they were holding a meeting on the day in question which was geared towards the celebration of their guinea corn festival which was scheduled for New Year’s Day.

The prosecution said in the course of the investigations, however, Nayemi and Dakoja in their further statements mentioned Uborifuni as the one who raised the issue of the creation of the so-called "Western Togoland" at the meeting for discussion which Uborifuni confirmed during the investigations.