Group calling for ‘Independent Volta Region’ charged with treason

 

The Ho Magistrate court has declined jurisdiction over a charge of treason felony proffered against three members of the Volta ‘separatist’ group, the Homeland study group foundation.

The police on Thursday arraigned the 78-year old, Charles Kudjordji, Martin Asiama Agbenu, 57 and Divine Odonkor, 65 before the magistrate court after they were arrested on Tuesday for engaging in acts deemed to be treasonable.

The men were said to have distributed some T-shirts declaring their intention to secede parts of Ghana including the Volta region as independent country with name Western Togoland.

They have since been charged with Treason Felony and arraigned before the court.

Minutes into the case, the judge, Franklin Titus Glover, declared that his court does not have jurisdiction over the ‘treason felony’ charge and directed them to head to the appropriate court.

‘I am not compete as a district court judge to handle issues of treason,’ the judge declared.

Earlier, the counsel for the suspects, Atsu Agbakpe told the court that, his clients were being detained unlawfully and the charges leveled against them was frivolous.

He cited article 19 (17), (18) to buttress his argument, stating that the mere wearing of a T-shirt cannot constitute a treasonable offence, since there was no use of aggression.

He spoke with the media after the hearing.

Founder of the group and one of the 3 suspects, Mr. Charles Kudjordji also told journalists, that the police is only intimidating them since they have not resorted to any violent ways of driving home their demand.

 

 

  The Ho Magistrate court has declined jurisdiction over a charge of treason felony proffered against three members of the Volta ‘separatist’ group, the Homeland study group foundation. The police on Thursday arraigned the 78-year old, Charles Kudjordji, Martin Asiama Agbenu, 57 and Divine Odonkor, 65 before the magistrate court after they were arrested on … Read Full Story