Martin Kpebu, a private legal practitioner, has expressed his desire for the cross-examination of Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the Ato Forson trial, to continue at length.
Kpebu believes that the more questions asked, the more Jakpa reveals crucial information that could aid his case.
He views the prolonged cross-examination as a cautionary tale for everyone, especially those in the criminal justice system, to be mindful of their conversations and phone usage.
Kpebu made these remarks on TV3’s News 360 on Thursday, June 20. He emphasized that the cross-examination serves as a warning to be cautious with phone conversations and interactions, as they can be used as evidence in court. Kpebu’s comments came after the High Court admitted the complete WhatsApp messages between Jakpa and Attorney-General Godfred Dame as evidence.
Jakpa had earlier acknowledged that the messages he presented in court were incomplete and selected based on relevance to his case.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, sought to introduce all WhatsApp messages sent by Jakpa into evidence, highlighting the disparity in the volume of messages sent by Jakpa compared to the Attorney-General’s responses.
Jakpa had obtained the Attorney-General’s contact information through his cousin, Supreme Court Judge Justice Yonny Kulendi, before the trial.
The admission of the WhatsApp messages as evidence and Jakpa’s testimony have shed more light on the case, and Kpebu’s comments highlight the importance of caution in communication, especially for those in the legal profession.
