Were you there? - Edudzi Tameklo hits back Martin Kpebu over attack on Richard Jakpa

The Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, has heavily descended on legal practitioner Martin Kpebu over his comments attacking Richard Jakpa regarding the search conducted at the residence of former Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr Ernest Addison by the National Security.

Martin Kpebu criticised the approach taken by the Richard Jakpa-led National Security in their operations at the residences of former government officials.

Addressing the recent operation at the house of Dr. Ernest Addison, former Bank of Ghana Governor, on TV3, Kpebu stated that Jakpa should be the last person to execute a warrant and subject individuals to unlawful raids.

He explained that Jakpa, who was once a victim of injustice during the ambulance case trial and had people like him, Kpebu, fighting for fairness, should not subject others to the same treatment.

In response to Kpebu’s comments, Edudzi Tameklo on TV3, chastised him for attempting to undermine the work of Jakpa, based on claims made by Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin, which he described as unsubstantiated.

According to him, the operation on the former government appointee was legally authorised by the office of the Attorney General as part of their investigations.

He further stated that Kpebu was neither present nor privy to crucial information and, therefore, should not have made such statements.

“I asked myself, Martin, were you there? The resolution of that issue resolves the matter. You are speaking of an account by Afenyo-Markin without more. How is that fair in the conversation on fairness and reasonableness? In a conversation founded on fairness and reasonableness, you premise your conversation and your submission on hearsay? You were not there and now you say this about Richard Jakpa? That is framing prejudice,” he said.

Edudzi Tamekloe, also a legal practitioner, maintained that Kpebu's position on the matter would have been valid if Jakpa, during the search of Dr Addison’s house, failed to present a warrant for the search.

He further emphasised that Jakpa acted properly in the discharge of his duties, contrary to Kpebu's assertion that Jakpa should have conducted himself in a more professional manner.

“He comes by saying, ‘oh, Jakpa, we kind of supported you in the past and so you must conduct yourself in a particular way’. How did he conduct himself? It would have been a different proposition if in going into the house of Governor Addison, one, it was done without a warrant, and two, he was not shown the benefit of the warrant and what he says. As we speak, the Deputy Attorney General has confirmed that when the National Security entered the house of Dr Addison, they did that under a lawful warrant,” he indicated.

Edudzi Tameklo faulted Kpebu for making his claims based on a report provided by Afenyo-Markin, pointing out that Afenyo-Markin had not been appointed as a spokesperson for the former BoG boss.

He added that this approach did not reflect fairness toward Jakpa.

“Do you know the details of the warrant and what is in it? Has Dr Addison spoken? No, he was there. He has not spoken. He has not also said his lawful representative or lawyer or spokesperson is Afenyo-Markin but you have premised your conversation on the conduct or otherwise of Richard Jakpa on the basis of Afenyo-Markin’s claims. In the conversation bordering on fairness and reasonableness, would you pass the test?.”

MAG/EK

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