Subin Timbers ‘owner’ grilled

A Kumasi-based pastor, Daniel Opoku Adabo, who succeeded in taking back Subin Timbers Limited – confiscated in the heat of the PNDC ‘revolution’ – was grilled yesterday by the Commission of Enquiry investigating the payment of judgement debts.

The witness, who appeared incoherent in his testimony, was subsequently asked by Sole-Commissioner, Justice Yaw Apau, to come back at a later date in the company of his lawyer who would be able to put the issues into proper perspective.

Mr. Opoku Adabo had petitioned the Commission to allow him to set the records straight since he said the media misreported the whole Subin Timbers saga.

Executive Secretary of the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC), Asakkua Agambila, blew wide open the Subin Timbers case recently when he asked the Commission to revisit the matter because the beneficiary of the deconfiscated company could not have been the owner] of the company.

He had told the Commission that there was an amalgamation of companies, including Subin Timbers Limited, into Western Veneer and Lumber Company (WVLC) after the confiscation in the 1980s and Ohene Kofi, who claimed to be the owner of Subin Timers, should not have been given everything at WVCL.

Subsequently, Ohene Kofi passed away and Daniel Opoku Adabo, who claims to be a step-son of the deceased, took over the deconfiscation process and purportedly got an order to take possession of the defunct company.

Following up on a petition he sent to correct the issues, Mr. Adabo admitted yesterday that he went to the National Reconciliation Commission after Osei Kofi had passed on, but could not tell what happened at the NRC.

“I put before the NRC that Subin Timbers, which belongs to my father, had been confiscated.” When Dometi Kofi Sorkpor, counsel for the Commission, asked him to tell what had transpired, the witness said, “If my memory serves me right, I didn’t give any document to them.”

Counsel: Are you telling this Commission that you do not have copies of certificate of incorporation and other related documents that go with the incorporation of a company?

Witness: We have but I did not bring them.

Counsel: What happened at the NRC?

Witness: I went there to tell my father’s story to them that his company had been confiscated.

Justice Apau (interrupts): After the Commission heard you, what happened? Witness: They told us to go, and we will hear from them.

Justice Apau: So nothing happened?

Witness: As far as my memory serves me right, nothing happened. We were later given a deconfiscation note. He told the Commission that he got the deconfiscation note from the AG’s Office but said he did not have it with him as he testified.

Justice Apau: So the NRC didn’t take any decision about your case?

Witness: No Sir!

Justice Apau: Then how did the deconfiscation come about?

Daniel Opoku Adabo said it was the late Ohene Kofi who had petitioned the AG, the CHRAJ and the NRC, but also said he didn’t have those documents with him.

Justice Apau: And you don’t have a copy here to show us?

Counsel (steps in): You went to court to sue who?

Witness: My understanding is that it is about the ownership of Subin Timbers.

Counsel: Which body did you sue?

Witness: My lawyer petitioned the court and a judge gave us permission to go and take ownership of the company when I received the deconfiscation note.

Justice Apau: Go and bring your lawyer because it appears you don’t understand the issues. You did not go to court. Rather, it was Subin Timbers that was sued.