Embattled businessman, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, yesterday went through two hours of grilling at the Supreme Court.
Deputy Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (AG), Mr. Godfred Dame, who stood in for the Minister began an inquiry into how Mr. Woyome spent the GHc 51 million paid to him by the state as a judgment debt.
The oral examination was to uncover potential sources of income for the businessman in order to recover more than 50million cedis due to the State.
Mr Woyome in his earlier responds described as atrocious the decision of the Attorney General to drag him before the Supreme Court to orally examine him on the GHc 51 million paid to him by the state.
Mr. Woyome alleged that he was being persecuted by the state through the court on the notion that he had a payment plan to pay the GHC 51 million as agreed with the AG.
Responding to a question pertaining to the kind of businesses he (Woyome) is involved in, he stated that he has not been in business since 2012.
Mr. Woyome explained that, he lost all his businesses after his arrest in 2011 and subsequent trial, saying, “my Lord, I spent all my time in court to the detriment of my businesses”.
When asked about the AAW Management Consulting Services, which was incorporated in 2016, Mr. Woyome told the court that the company, despite being established in 2016, is still not in business.
One issue, that generated long debate was when he was quizzed as to who owns the Abelemkpe house, one of the two houses he lived in Accra.
Lawyer Dame: You live at Abelemkpe and Kokomlemle is that not correct? These are houses owned by you.
Mr Woyome: That’s incorrect. I own the Kokomlele one with my family. You cannot say that for the Abelemkpe one.
Lawyer Dame: Under what circumstance do you occupy the Abelemkpe one?
Lawyer Dame: Who in your family owns it? At this point the Sole Judge intervened. ‘What do you mean by it’s a family house?’
Mr Woyome: It’s a family house owned by my junior brother. The house has been made available for use by the family for years now.
Lawyer Dame: I suggest to you that your testimony that your brother owns that house is false.
Lawyer Dame: I will apply for the court to ask him to provide the document for that. This is a debtor who since 2014 has paid a paltry sum. It’s crucial we know this.
But the counsel for Mr Woyome, Lawyer Anku raised an objection to that question.
However, the Presiding Judge, Alfred Benin, came in saying, “he says he doesn’t own that house, the state thinks he does. In such situations, the normal rules of evidence will have to be followed. Is it necessary for the court to make an order? That’s what I want you to look at. A lot of things come up during oral examination”.
He directed that Mr Woyome furnish the Registry of the court, the property number of the Abelemkpe house by close of work on Friday, jJuly 28, 2017 Again, the Judge ordered the Registrar of the court to issue a subpoena to the Registrar of Lands Commission to appear to assist the court at its next sitting date.
Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned to October 2, 2017.
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