Recent market fires: NIB arrests Otokunor's driver

The driver of the National Democratic Congress’ Deputy General Secretary, Peter Boamah Otokunor has been arrested by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).

According to reports, Eric Adoglah’s arrest is in connection with the fire outbreaks being recorded at major markets across the country.

In less than four weeks a number of fire outbreaks have been reported in markets and other public spaces across the country.

There have been fire outbreaks in Kantamanto, Koforidua and Odawna. Last Saturday, a section of the Kaneshie Market was razed by fire, leaving nine shops destroyed.

The phenomenon has become a source of worry for traders who are losing thousands of cedis in these fire outbreaks.

And for others, it may be a deliberate attempt by certain persons within the opposition NDC to exhibit their displeasure against the results declared by the Electoral Commission.

But speaking on Accra-based TV3 Monday, the lawyer for the suspect, Victor Kojogah Adawudu said he is yet to be informed on the offence his client has been charged with, hence, his arrest.

For him, the move by the NIB is in the bid to intimidate the accused’s boss, Mr Otokunor.

“His boss [Peter Otukonor] has been vocal so it is in a bid to intimidate him they are trying to plant something on him [the accused] so that he accuses his boss [Peter Otokunor]. We don’t know so we do not want to conjecture,” he said.

Lawyer Adawudu expressed suspicion that the NIB officials want to “torture” the driver to confess what may not be true.