Businessman Richard Jakpa has said he brought portions of what he described as “relevant” of the WhatApp conversation he had with Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame to state his case in Court. Dame

According to him, the Attorney General is at liberty to also produce those portions he Jakpa excluded from the exhibit before the Court to also state his position.

Prosecution led by the Director of Public Prosecution Mrs Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa while subjecting Richard Jakpa to cross examination said, the accused had excluded portions of WhatApp conversations he had with Godfred Dame, per his evidence before the Court.

But, in his response Mr Jakpa said, “I brought the relevant portions of the conversation with the Attorney General that will make my case.”

He added that, “The WhatsApp conversation was between the Attorney General and myself. He is at liberty to bring the other portions that he feels will discredit what I have presented here.”

Mr Jakpa also admitted that he was the one that first initiated a WhatsApp conversation with the Attorney General to introduce himself to him after collecting the AG’s number from his Cousin – Justice Emmanuel Yoni Kulendi.

“It is true I sent him (Godfred Dame) a message to introduce myself, and in this exhibit, it is not here, but I have indicated that I introduced myself to him” – Jakpa to the Court under cross-examination.

The Prosecution while subjecting Mr Jakpa to cross examination put to him that he was fired from the military because he failed his promotional exams.

But, Mr Jakpa disagreed saying, “as I have been explaining, the answer is not a simple yes or no,” adding that, “I was being victimized, and that is why I am explaining.”

To buttress his point, the Businessman who is the third accused person also told the Court that, he was reposted to Accra from Sunyani because of a problem he had with former Defence Minster, Addo Kuffuor.

“I was reposted from Sunyani to Accra because of a problem I had with the former Minister of Defence, Addo Kufuor.

“In the military, we are trained and governed by military rules, and in those rules, we are trained not to obey unlawful commands” – Jakpa on why he refused to hand over his brief as ordered by Addo Kufuor.

When it was put to him by the DPP that the Attorney General did not know that, he Jakpa was a Cousin to Justice Kulendi, he said he was unable to confirm that assertion.

“I cannot confirm for him (Godfred Dame). I am not in his (AG) mind, and I am not his PA, so whether he knew I am the cousin of Justice Yoni Kulendi, he is the only person who can tell” – Jakpa to the Court on the Prosecution’s question about whether the AG knew him prior to filing charges.

It was also the case of the Prosecution that, Mr Jakpa had sent 68 messages to the Attorney General but he only received two replies.

But, while disagreeing with that assertion he said, some of their conversations that formed the basis for the WhatsApp messages from him were during meetings they had.

“Yes, but I don’t have the number of WhatsApp messages in my head.

“What I do know, and is on his (AG’s) phone and my phone is that he (Godfred Dame) called me, gave me an assignment, and I executed it” – Jakpa on sending 68 messages to the AG and receiving only two replies.

“I gave him feedback, and he acknowledged the feedback. Prior to that, I sent him a WhatsApp message requesting a private meeting at his convenience, and he responded that he would arrange for our meeting through my cousin (Justice Yoni Kulendi)” he told the Court presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe.

Richard Jakpa also said it was the Attorney General who suggested Justice Yoni Kulendi’s house as venue to their meeting.

“I didn’t suggest my cousin’s (Justice Yoni Kulendi’s) house; he (Godfred Dame) suggested my cousin’s house” –

Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame was in Court on June 18 as the Case has been adjourned to June 20, 2024 for continuation.

Source: Kasapafmonline.com/Murtala Inusah