Accra: A High Court in Accra has scheduled February 11 for the hearing of a bail application submitted on behalf of Ben Lord Ababio, who is accused of murder and claims to be a traditional ruler.
According to Ghana News Agency, during the court session on Tuesday, lawyers representing Ben Lord Ababio, also known as Nana Barima, highlighted the formal bail application they had filed in his favor. Ababio and Nana Kofi Amo Gyekye, also known as Nana Fiifi, are on trial for their alleged roles in a land dispute that resulted in the death of Lance Corporal Michael Danso of the Ghana Armed Forces. The authorities are still searching for two accomplices, Oteng and Salisu, who remain at large.
Ababio faces charges of conspiracy and an additional charge of murder, while Gyekye is charged with conspiracy. Currently, Ababio is held in lawful custody, whereas Gyekye has been released on a bail of GHC one million, with two sureties required to justify the bail amount. As part of his bail conditions, Gyekye must deposit his passport at the court's registry.
The incident in question occurred on April 30, 2024, around 1600 hours, when Lance Corporal Michael Danso, along with colleagues Lance Corporals Abdul Omar Rahman and Ametus Mattew, drove to the Millennium City Police Station in a Toyota RAV 4 to report a trespassing issue. They had been informed that encroachers were developing a parcel of land belonging to Lance Corporal Abdul Omar Rahman. Ababio allegedly appeared at the police station, opened fire on Lance Corporal Danso, who was in the vehicle, and killed him instantly. He was subsequently disarmed by the police and arrested for further investigation, which eventually led to Gyekye's arrest.
