Asabke Alangdi has urged an Accra High Court trying him and Gregory Afoko to disregard a testimony by fifth prosecution witness (PW5), Zewura Issaka that she heard the late Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Adam Mahama mentioning their names while the doctors and nurses treating him did not.

He could not fathom the possibility or truthfulness of statement that suggests that names could be mentioned so loud that individuals standing outside an emergency ward could hear clearly while the officers in the ward could not also hear same.

This beat the imagination of the second accused (A2) who is standing trial with Gregory Afoko for their action of pouring acid on the deceased six years ago.

What strikes A2 to be more confused, is the fact that the deceased never at any instance mentioned his name or Gregory Afoko’s name while he was said to be wailing and howling in pains at his residence and also when being taking to the hospital.

He could also not understand how persons who are not health workers would be allowed at a close distance in an emergency ward to have a conversation with a patient who is being treated for severe acid burns.

This, concerns pushed his defence counsel, lawyer Andrew Vortia to suggest to the court presided over by Justice Mrs Merlyn Wood on Thursday that the witness was being untruthful to the court.

 But the witness averred that she was being truthful and that the deceased indeed signal her to come and whispered into her ears that that his client and Afoko poured acid on him and even requested that in case he dies, his family should bury his mortal remains at his hometown.

She also told the court, the deceased also requested that she passed on to his wife to take good care of their children.

Mr Vortia then asked at what time did the conversation happened when the doctors and nurses were attending to an emergency case as serious as acid burns.

She responded that the interaction happened briefly after drips had been poured on the deceased and the doctors and nurses stepped away shortly.

PW5 further insisted that openly let out the names of those who poured the acid on to the hearing Tofic, Hajiah Zinabu (his wife), Razark, Mariama, Quinn and herself while at standing at the entrance of the emergency ward.

She said the doctors and nurses attending to the deceased left the door ajar, hence they could see everything happening in there.

PW5 also claimed she saw the deceased talking to Tofic (PW1) but could not hear neither hear the language they spoke in nor what they spoke about.

However, when asked in what language did the deceased mentioned the names of those who poured acid to the group at the entrance of the emergency ward, she answered in the Hausa language 

Lawyer; Madam Zurera, I’m putting it to you that you’re being untruthful to the court for the 3rd time?

Witness: I’m being truthful 

The case stand adjourned to Tuesday, March 30, 2021.

By Adelaide Oforiwaa