Justice has finally been served in the tragic case of Mohammed Zakiu Wunpini, the 19-year-old pharmacy student at the University for Development Studies (UDS) who was murdered in cold blood in September 2024.

On Friday, the Tamale High Court sentenced 21-year-old Salifu Nurudeen, also known as Nko-nya, to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of the premeditated murder of Zakiu. The sentencing brings closure to a case that shocked the UDS campus and the entire nation.

The Backstory

At the time of the incident, rumours spread quickly that Zakiu had been killed on the orders of his ex-girlfriend. However, detailed investigations and court proceedings have since debunked those claims.

Court documents and testimonies revealed that the motive for the murder stemmed from a failed relationship and jealousy. Nurudeen, it emerged, was previously dating the same girl who later became romantically involved with Zakiu. Enraged by this development, Nurudeen plotted revenge.

A Sinister Plot Unfolds

According to the prosecution, Nurudeen went to disturbing lengths to execute his plan. He created a fake Snapchat account impersonating a female acquaintance and began chatting with Zakiu, luring him under the guise of a friendly meetup.

The trap was set for September 25, 2024. Zakiu, unaware of the danger, agreed to meet the ‘Snapchat friend’ near the UDS campus — at an uncompleted building between Citadel and Kumbung Hostels. That night, he was brutally stabbed to death.

The Breakthrough

Investigators were able to track Nurudeen through Zakiu’s missing phone, which he had taken after the murder. When police found him hiding in Nyankpala, the victim’s phone was recovered in his possession.

Nurudeen confessed to using Zakiu’s SIM card after the murder to send misleading messages. He impersonated Zakiu in texts to his girlfriend and close friends, attempting to frame her by suggesting she was involved in a breakup that turned deadly.

However, his digital trail and contradictory statements unraveled the truth — exposing his elaborate attempt to mislead authorities.

The Verdict

Despite pleading not guilty and blaming others, including the girl, throughout the trial, the court found Nurudeen’s actions to be calculated and malicious. Prosecutors stated that if Nurudeen had admitted guilt early on and cooperated with investigators, the charge may have been reduced to manslaughter. His repeated efforts to shift blame ultimately contributed to his life sentence.

The girl at the center of the rumors has been cleared of any wrongdoing, as the investigation found no evidence linking her to the crime.

A Campus in Mourning

Zakiu Wunpini was preparing to enter his third year of pharmacy studies at UDS before his life was cut short. His death sent shockwaves across campus, where he was known as a promising and hardworking student.

With the court’s ruling, Zakiu’s family and the UDS community may finally begin the long process of healing.

Photo caption: The late Mohammed Zakiu Wunpini, whose life and dreams were tragically cut short.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has formally charged Paul Adom-Otchere, former Board Chairman of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), alongside two other individuals, in connection with a contentious revenue assurance contract.

Despite being granted bail, Mr. Adom-Otchere remains in custody after failing to meet the bail requirement of providing two landed properties registered in his name. He reportedly informed investigators that he does not own any such properties in Ghana, making compliance with the condition unattainable.

Also charged are Otchere Kwame Baffour Awuah, Group Executive for Commercial Services at GACL, and Albert Adjetey Adjei-Laryea, Chief Executive Officer of Devnest Systems.

The charges stem from an ongoing investigation into a revenue assurance contract awarded to a private firm allegedly linked to the owner of Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML). The OSP is examining suspected procurement violations, including the alleged sole-sourcing of a company that did not receive board approval from GACL.

Mr. Adom-Otchere was summoned for questioning on Thursday, July 31, following a formal notice issued on July 25, 2025.

In an interview with Citi Newsroom prior to his appearance before the OSP, Adom-Otchere described the investigation as politically driven. “I describe this as a witch-hunt,” he stated, asserting that he played no part in executing the contract. “The contract in question was signed by the Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company, and I was not even aware it had been executed.”

He further questioned why the investigation is focused on him instead of the GACL management officials who handled the contract process.

The OSP is expected to release additional information on the case and outline the next steps in the legal process in the coming days.

Nicholas Lenin Anane Agyei, legal representative for Paul Adom-Otchere, has condemned the bail terms set by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), describing them as harsh and discriminatory.

This follows the OSP’s directive that Mr. Adom-Otchere, former Board Chairman of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), must present two landed properties registered in his name before securing bail. Despite being officially granted bail, he remains in custody due to his inability to meet this condition.

Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Thursday, July 31, Mr. Agyei expressed concern that the OSP’s demands appear intended to deliberately prolong Mr. Adom-Otchere’s detention.

He argued that the requirement was not only excessive but also unfair to individuals without significant assets.

“Asking for two landed properties in the name of the accused is an unreasonable demand, especially when it’s known he doesn’t own any. It’s as though the system is designed to deny bail to those without wealth,” he said.

Mr. Agyei further revealed that during preliminary procedures, Mr. Adom-Otchere had clearly indicated that he does not possess any landed properties. Despite this disclosure, the OSP still made such a condition central to his bail.

“It’s concerning that the OSP would insist on such conditions even after learning about his lack of property ownership. This, in our view, amounts to a veiled attempt to keep him behind bars,” he added.

He assured the public that the legal team is actively pursuing all lawful channels to challenge the conditions and secure the release of his client.