Accra, Sept. 9, GNA - Mr Abukari Amadu, an employee of First Allied Savings and Loans Company and former Chief Attendant at the Gbewaa Palace at Yendi, on Thursday testified in the Ya Na murder trial at an Accra Fast Track High Court.

Fourteen persons are on trial for their alleged involvement in the murder of Ya Na Yakubu Andani II, the overlord of Dagbon and some of his elders in March 2002.

They have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to murder and murder.

The accused persons are; Mohammed Habib Tijani, Former Yendi District Chief Executive, Iddrisu Iddi 76, Alhaji Baba Iddrisu Abdulai 54, Kwame Alhassan 53 and Mohammadu Abdulai 57.

The rest are Saibu Mohammed 34, Alhassan Mohammed Briamah 40, Alhassan Ibrahim, Mohammed Mustapha and Sani Moro.

The others are Yakubu Usifu, Ahmed Abukari, Abdul Razak Usifu and Alhassan Braimah.

Mr Amadu led in evidence by Ms Gertrude Aikins, Director of Public Prosecution said on March 23, 2002 he was at Yendi when he heard a rumour that the Abudus were planning to prevent the Ya Na from celebrating the annual Bugum Festival.

He said when the Ya Na and his elders were informed about the plan they ignored it as a rumour and on an occasion the elders sent one Ziblim on an errand at the residence of the Tijani but was attacked on the way. Two other people were sent but they were also attacked by the Abudus.

Mr Amadu said later a Policeman came to deliver a message to the Ya Na to meet Tijani at the Yendi Police Station, he responded and at the station they discussed an imposition of a curfew on Yendi Township to stop the celebration of the Bugum festival.

Witness said later the Ya Na sent somebody to Tijani to explain the rational for the curfew.

Mr Amadu told the court that when the Abudus attacked the palace they resisted by firing locally manufactured guns, and when the fighting intensified, he (witness) escaped to safety.

He said it was while hiding he heard the Abudus singing in Dagbani and playing drums that they had captured and killed the Ya Na.

Witness said later he saw some of the Abudus carrying the decapitated arm of the Ya Na and fearing for his life had to run away to Tamale.

The facts presented by the prosecution was that sometime in March 2002, the Ya Na and some of his elders were killed following a clash between the two royal gates in Dagbon, Abudus and Andanis.

After the clash, Idrissu Gyamfo and Yidana Sugri were arrested and prosecuted for the alleged murder but were acquitted and discharged.

Government in a fresh attempt to find the murderers conducted a dawn swoop at Yendi during, which 41 persons were rounded up.

After screening them in Bimbilla, 33 were granted self-recognisance bail, while the rest were escorted to Accra and put before the court.

The case has been adjourned to Tuesday, September 14.