Sogakope Assemblyman’s Murder: Ringleader Gets Life Sentence, Accomplices Jailed
Five years after the brutal murder of Sogakope Assemblyman Mawuli Adzahli justice has finally been served. The Ho High Court presided over by Justice Daniel Ekow Mensah has sentenced the ringleader of the gang behind the killing Richard Adikyere a mason to life imprisonment.
Two of Adikyere’s accomplices Emmanuel Hedzro and Stephen Adzibolo were each handed 47 years in jail for robbery. All three had pleaded not guilty to the charges which included robbery possession of firearms without lawful authority and murder. However the court found them guilty based on overwhelming evidence presented by the prosecution.
The gruesome incident occurred on March 1, 2020, when the late assemblyman was attacked in his home in Sogakope at about 1:30 am. According to Senior State Attorney Andrews Dodzi Adugu, Hedzro who was unemployed at the time had identified Adzahli as a wealthy target and recruited Adikyere to help plan the robbery. Adikyere then assembled a group of gangsters for the operation.
The gang broke into Adzahli’s house using cement blocks. Armed with a pump action gun and pistols they stormed his room. During the attack, Adikyere shot the assemblyman three times killing him instantly. The gang then fled with a large sum of money. A post-mortem conducted at the Sogakope District Hospital confirmed that Adzahli died from severe head and chest injuries caused by close-range gunshots.
Four other gang members Obed Ayornu, Michael Sam, Samuel Kofi Zotorvi and his twin brother Christian Zotorvi entered plea deals earlier and were each sentenced to 15 years imprisonment after pleading guilty.
Investigations revealed that Hedzro used his share of the stolen money to purchase a motorbike worth GH¢4,800. The accused persons were later arrested in various locations including Ashaiman. During police interrogation Adikyere confessed to shooting the assemblyman with a pump action gun, which was stolen during a previous robbery.
In delivering his judgement Justice Daniel Ekow Mensah described the crime as heinous and callous noting that the murder took the life of a productive citizen. He said the court took into account the shocking nature of the crime and the compelling evidence presented by the prosecution.
As the convicts were being led out of the courtroom Adikyere who was handcuffed to Hedzro attempted to attack journalists who were taking photos of them.
The sentencing brings closure to one of the most shocking criminal cases in the Volta Region in recent years with many praising the court for ensuring that justice was served.