The Techiman Circuit Court in the Brong-Ahafo Region, presided over by Alexandra Graham, has ordered that Winners FM journalist Iddrisu Awudu be remanded into police custody. He is expected to reappear in court on June 28, 2017, after allegedly causing fear and panic during a radio broadcast on June 12, 2017.
Awudu, also known as “Mighty Judas,” served as the station’s general manager and morning show host. Winners FM—owned by former Deputy Minister of Education and Techiman North MP Alex Kyeremeh—has since dismissed him.
The court also issued a bench warrant for a second accused person, Mark Abbrey, managing editor of the Techiman Times, who is accused of republishing Awudu’s claims. Abbrey was hospitalized on the day of the hearing, and the warrant was issued to ensure he did not evade the process.
According to the prosecution, led by Detective Inspector M. Diboro, Awudu announced on air that murderers had entered the Techiman municipality, kidnapped, and killed eight people. He claimed he knew their hideouts and could assist the police. Abbrey reportedly recorded this information and published it in the Techiman Times.
The two also later alleged that they witnessed someone placing a kidnapped child in a fertilizer sack and riding off toward Tanoso, a suburb of Techiman.
Police said these false claims triggered widespread fear, prompting parents and teachers to flood the divisional police headquarters for verification. Some parents even rushed to schools to retrieve their children. When summoned for questioning, both journalists failed to comply, which the police say further undermined their credibility and forced their arrest.
Although the accused had legal representation, their lawyer was unable to attend the proceedings and requested permission to appear at a later date.
