Anyidoho hot; Court orders phone seizure, Mahama storms BNI

Police investigators probing the treasonable comments made by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Deputy General Secretary, Koku Anyidoho, are tightening the noose around his neck.

An Accra High Court yesterday gave the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service the green light to seize the mobile phone (s) and other electronic gadgets, including computers, of Koku Anyidoho – who is calling for the overthrow of the NPP administration – for investigation purposes.

This follows his arrest by the police on Tuesday after he had made the treasonable statements during an interview on Accra-based Happy FM.

Per the order given by Justice Patience Mills-Teteh of the General Jurisdiction Division of the court, the police are also permitted to “seize and search” the electronic devices of Mr Koku Anyidoho’s ‘agents.’

The court gave the order after an ex-parte motion had been filed by ACP Frederick Kwadzo Agyei to search the residence of Anyidoho.

“It is hereby ordered that electronic gadgets, including laptops, iphones and ipads believed to be storage of information related to treason in the premises of Koku Anyidoho and his agents are to be seized to aid police investigation of the said Koku Anyidoho,” the order read.

The NDC deputy general secretary spent the second night in the CID custody after failed attempts by his lawyers to secure bail for him. Not even a visit by former President John Mahama and his NDC chieftains was enough in getting bail for their ‘darling boy.’

He has been sent to the BNI cells where he is cooling off. He may spend the Easter holidays in detention.



Crunch meeting

Meanwhile, superior officers of the Criminal Investigations Department were yesterday locked up in a marathon meeting over Koku Anyidoho’s offensive comments, DAILY GUIDE learnt.

Efforts to get details of the meeting proved futile at press time but the police administration, in a statement, said that it was following due process in sending Mr Anyidoho to court.

According to ACP David Senanu Eklu, Director-General in-charge of Public Affairs, on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, police officers from the CID were dispatched to the International Press Centre to arrest Anyidoho.

He said Koku Anyidoho published statements likely to cause fear and panic among the public and also endeavoured to carry out by unlawful means an enterprise which usurps the executive power of Ghana.

“The suspect was brought to the CID headquarters by the arresting officers and a search was conducted at his residence in his presence together with his lawyer,” the police officer stated.

ACP Eklu said the Deputy General Secretary of the NDC had been cautioned on offences related to causing fear and alarm and treason felony and was in custody pending further investigation.

He, therefore, assured the public that the police would follow due processes in investigating the offence the suspect had committed and urged all to remain calm and support the police in the discharge of their duties.

The police on Tuesday afternoon arrested Koku Anyidoho for plotting to overthrow the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

He had stated on Monday on Happy FM – a private radio station based in Accra – that he was leading a movement to overthrow President Akufo-Addo’s government and even went to the extent of saying that the ‘uprising’ was commencing on yesterday, March 28, 2018.

Meanwhile, the police have officially requested the management of Happy FM to present the audio recording of Mr. Anyidoho’s coup threats.