One more suspect arraigned in Immigration Officer murder case

One more suspect has been arraigned in connection with the murder of Stephen King Amoah, the Immigration Officer whose charred body was found near Kwabenya in July.

Thomas Zigah, also known as Nii Dzaase, appeared before the Kaneshie District Court alongside Bright Aweh, alias Highest Bright, the first accused.

Both have been charged with conspiracy to murder and murder.

Chief Inspector Apewah Achana, leading the prosecution, informed the court that Zigah had recently been arrested, prompting the withdrawal of the earlier charge sheet and its replacement with an amended version.

“One more person has been arrested in addition to the other accused person, and we made an amendment to the charge sheet,” he said.

Presiding Judge Awurama Damoah Darkwah remanded the accused into lawful custody to reappear on September 4, 2025.

Defence counsel Mr. Godwin Aboagye, holding brief for Mr. Theophilus Donkor, requested that Zigah, who appeared in court limping and with reddened eyes, be sent to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for treatment.

He argued that the Police Hospital, where Zigah had previously been treated, lacked the independence required in a case involving police investigators.

We do not want a situation where the Police, which is the investigator in the case, the prosecutor, and also becomes the medical doctor.

“They might end up suppressing evidence. We want an independent hospital,” Mr. Aboagye said, also requesting a one-week adjournment.

The prosecution opposed the application, stating that Zigah had already received treatment and been discharged from the Police Hospital.

They assured the court that any further medical needs would be addressed appropriately and requested a two-week adjournment to allow investigators to continue work outside Accra.

The court declined the defence's request, ruling that there was no evidence to question the integrity of the Police Hospital.

Relatives of the late Amoah, dressed in red and black, filled the courtroom in a show of grief and solidarity.

Despite a heavy police presence, officers struggled to manage the crowd as the accused were escorted in and out.

Amoah went missing on July 3, 2025, after leaving home to meet Aweh at Ashongman Estates.

His body was discovered days later in a drain at Aboum Junction.

Investigations revealed that the meeting was arranged following WhatsApp exchanges involving images of cash, allegedly to settle a debt.

Aweh claimed he gave Amoah GH$500,000 to pay off a debt and retain the balance, but inconsistencies in his account raised suspicion.

He was initially charged with kidnapping and later arrested for murder after police found a bloodstained camouflage fabric and a fufu pestle wrapped in polythene at his residence.

Zigah's arrest followed weeks of investigation, and both men now face charges of conspiracy to murder and murder.