The seven accused persons charged with conspiracy to murder and murdering the Chief of Ganzhegu, Andani Yakubu, have been refused bail by the Tamale District Court. They are Haruna Tia, Abukari Tia, Yak'Ubu Tia, Musa Tia, Joseph Tia, Abudu Tia and Kojo Harnza, alias Gushie-Na. Forty-one others charged for carrying offensive weapons were also refused bail by the court, presided over by Mr Gabriel Mate-Teye. Their pleas were not taken by the court and they were remanded in prison custody to reappear on April 23, 2010. The court said investigations into the case were still ongoing and, therefore, it would be premature to grant bail to the accused persons. Mr Mate- Teye further indicated that "his court jurisdiction is limited and, therefore, cannot grant bail in the matter relating to murder and carrying of weapons and consequently bail for the persons is declined". He, therefore, advised counsel for the accused persons to rather apply to the Tamale High Court for the issue of bail to be considered. In his earlier submission, the prosecutor, Inspector Johnson Kyeremeh, had said there had been a new development following the arrest of an additional suspect who had been on the run. The facts of the case are that the deceased, Andani Yakubu, was enskinned the Garizhegu Chief on March 14,2010. That, however, did not go down well with a section of the people in the village who protested over the issue. As a result, the late chief had been leaving outside the village since his instalment. The deceased decided to visit his friend at a nearby village, Nangbagu, on his motorbike. However, on his return, he was allegedly stopped at Garizhegu and subsequently attacked by the suspects, leading to his death. His motorbike was burnt and placed on his body. A number of offensive weapons were' also retrieved, including J 8 locally manufactured guns, four machetes and a knife. Source: Daily Graphic