ADVERTISEMENT
Capt. Koda is a 'jail-breaker' - Interior Ministry
Capt Koda was arrested after being implicated in the case involving the three former South African ex-police officers who were arrested last week for allegedly training the private security of the NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo.
Recommended articles
“Captain Koda’s current arrest comes on the heels of a previous security alert in 2014, after his name popped up in a National Security investigation of the activities of some Serbian nationals who were brought into the country to train selected people drawn from across the country in the art of civil insurrection. A training dubbed 'Assaulting the pillars of power," a statement signed by the Interior Minister, Prosper Bani said.
According to the statement, “As a young officer, Captain Koda had been involved in the AFRC regime. Following accusations of corruption he was convicted together with a colleague and incarcerated in the Ussher Fort Prison. They subsequently escaped during a jail break and went into exile outside Ghana.”
The statement comes on the back of controversies surrounding the arrest of the three former South African ex-police officerslast week for allegedly training the private security of the NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo.
ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED: 3 SA ex-police officers charged
The BNI arrested the three ex-police officers, Major Ahmed Shaik (retd), 54; Warrant Officer Denver Dwahye, 33, and Captain Mlungiseli Jokani, 45, last Sunday, March 20 in the Agona East of the Central region for "training fifteen young men in various military drills, including unarmed combat, weapon handling, VIP protection techniques and rapid response maneuvers”.
The BNI had argued that their activities might pose a security threat to the country. The three were subsequently charged with conspiracy to commit crime and unlawful training.
They were granted bail in the sum of ¢20,000 with a surety each, but the three are still being held in BNI custody, a situation the NPP has described as a violation on the rights of the South African nationals. The NPP has intended to sue the BNI for what the party describes as unlawful detention of the three.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry has assured Ghanaians of utmost security in the wake of terror attacks across the world.
ADVERTISEMENT
Below is the full statement from the Interior Ministry:
PRESS RELEASE: ARREST OF THREE (3) SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONALS
1. Three (3) South-African Nationals namely, Ahmed Shaik HAZIS, Denver Dwayne NAIDU and Mlungiseleli JOKANI were arrested on 20/03/16 at EL CAPITANO Hotel at AGONA DUAKWA in the Central Region by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI). They were arrested while training fifteen (15) men in various security drills.
2. Two (2) of the suspects, JOKANI and NAIDU arrived in the country on 14/03/16 on South-African passport numbers A05213410 and M00096231 respectively. HAZIS arrived on 05/03/16 with Passport Number M00052092. HAZIS has visited Ghana several times between 2012 and 2016. They came into the country on B1 visas (temporary visas) for business.
3. The three (3) trainers revealed that they are retired police officers of the South-African Police Force. Mr. HAZIS is employed by iMvula Quality Protection as Director of Operations. NAIDU and JOKANI are employed by GLAEXEC Protection Services (GPS) (PTY Limited) of South-Africa as Directors.
ADVERTISEMENT
4. A comprehensive report on the operations of Superlock Technologies Limited (STL) and an assessment of some key staff’s vulnerability for possible compromise was retrieved from HAZIS’S room. STL is the company contracted by the Electoral Commission to transmit tallied election results.
5. HAZIS denied authoring the document but indicated that it was given to him by DANI ISAACA, an Israeli based in South- Africa. HAZIS claimed he had not read the document which had been in his possession for about three (3) weeks. During interrogation it was evident that he was conversant with the content of the document.
6. The suspects denied that they were invited by Captain Kwesi ACQUAH, owner of Delta Force Security. However, all items for the training were shipped in the name of Delta Force Security and his hotel, El Capitano was used for the training. Captain Acquah was released from the Ghana Army in 1980.
7. HAZIS, the leader of the team, revealed that Captain Edmund Kojo KODA, Head of Nana Akufo ADDO’s Personal Security, who was in the Ghana Army at the same time as Captain Acquah, contracted him to train the Flagbearer’s Security detail and he in turn engaged the other two (2). He also disclosed that he was in the country in 2012 and worked closely with Captain KODA during the 2012 elections. As a young officer, Captain Koda had been involved in the AFRC regime. Following accusations of corruption he was convicted together with a colleague and incarcerated in the Ussher Fort Prison. They subsequently escaped during a jail break and went into exile outside Ghana.
8. Captain Koda’s current arrest comes on the heels of a previous security alert in 2014, after his name popped up in a National Security investigation of the activities of some Serbian nationals who were brought into the country to train selected people drawn from across the country in the art of civil insurrection. A training dubbed “Assaulting the pillars of power”.
ADVERTISEMENT
9. During interrogation, Captain ACQUAH denied the claim that he invited the South Africans but indicated that Captain KODA requested to use his facility (EL CAPITANO Hotel) for the training of his personnel. He also indicated that it was purely a business arrangement with Captain KODA and nothing else. CAPTAIN KODA on his part confirmed that he invited the suspects to train his personnel. Captain KODA conceded that with hindsight he should have sought permission from the authorities before engaging in that exercise.
10. A review of the visa applications submitted by the three (3) South Africans revealed that two (2) of the suspects (JOKANI and NAIDU) were invited by Dr. Daniel MCKORLEY, Chairman, McDan Group of Companies while HAZIS was invited by Nana Attobrah QUAICOE, Director of Danquah Institute (DI). Efforts to reach the two gentlemen for questioning have so far not been successful.
11. Both Captains KODA and ACQUAH have been granted police inquiry bail pending further investigation.
12. On 23/03/16, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) started an investigation into the immigration status of the three (3) accused persons and requested the BNI to hand them over for further action. They were therefore released on 24/03/16 to the GIS as requested. Meanwhile, in line with regular practice the GIS requested that the BNI provide custody of the suspects. 13. During the course of investigation, the following places were searched: Captain KODA’s residence, Captain ACQUAH’s residence and Hotel El Capitano.
14. The security agencies of Ghana can assure the citizenry, political stakeholders and all who deem themselves to be high value targets to be assured of the commitment of the security agencies and government to provide the required and utmost security as has been exhibited since the commencement of our current democratic dispensation. Should the need arise for any stakeholder to opt for private security as we have witnessed under this index case, we strongly advise that the mandatory legal processes are followed and exhausted. The peace, security and stability of our dear nation and its people shall always remain paramount to government.
ADVERTISEMENT
Signed:
PROSPER D.K. BANI
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh
Recommended articles
Martin Kpebu laments wasting his vote in 2016: 'I thought Akufo-Addo was junior Jesus'
Ghanaian man desperate to escape poverty puts himself up for sale (video)
Ghana's premium cocoa position under threat due to galamsey — COCOBOD warns
Prepare for tough times ahead - Prof Adei warns Ghanaians
NDC poses 35 critical questions to Electoral Commission over stolen biometric devices
Court jails 22-year-old apprentice for assaulting teacher over false missing penis claim
PURC fines ECG board members GH¢5.8m over failure to release dumsor timetable
NPP's Mike Ocquaye washes pants, clothes for Dome Kwabenya constituents to secure vote
