Nii Ayikoi Otoo, a former Attorney-General and counsel for former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo, Ayikoi Otoo, has denied allegations against him by former Auditor-General Daniel Domelovo that he presented fake evidence during the Committee’s proceedings on Madam Torkonoo.
“I have listened to him; I was surprised at what he is doing. I didn’t know him to be that political, but I see him as only wearing political glasses…,” Nii Ayikoi Otoo told Joy FM‘s Top Story on Tuesday, October 7, in response to the allegations by Mr. Domelovo
Daniel Yao Domelevo, a member of the committee that investigated petitions against the sacked Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, had accused, Nii Ayikoi Otoo, of presenting fake documents during the in-camera proceedings that led to her removal from office.
“I want to put it on record that he provided us with evidence that was fake,” Domelevo bluntly stated during a recent appearance on the KSM Show.
In the conversation that quickly drew public attention, Domelovo explained that as an experienced lawyer, Mr. Otoo should have known that any evidence he provided needed verification and that the lawyer should also have known that the petitioners had presented counter-evidence, as both sides were required to validate their claims.
However, Domelevo alleged that Mr. Otoo submitted a falsified appointment letter of the Chief Justice to the five-member committee chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Pwamang.
According to Domelevo, the letter was irregular and questionable because it was signed by the Judicial Secretary, a junior officer, instead of the appointing authority.
“I am not speaking on behalf of the committee. Let us come to Mr. Ayikoi Otoo’s attack on me. I find it very interesting. He said he has provided all the evidence to me, Domelevo, a former Auditor-General, and I sat there and didn’t take it. And other people, whatever, influenced my decision.
Being an experienced lawyer, I expected him to know that, yes, he provided evidence to us, but we had to verify it. He should also know that there was counter-evidence from the petitioners. When you provide evidence, they also provide evidence to validate it. Some of the evidence he provided as far as the financial issue is concern were fake.
It will interest you to know that it is the junior of the Chief Justice, the Judicial Secretary, who appointed the Chief Justice; that letter he produced was signed by the Judicial Secretary appointing her as Chief Justice,” he added.
Domelevo’s statement came in response to earlier claims by Mr. Otoo on Joy FM’s Newsfile. In that interview, the former Attorney-General had accused the committee of disregarding crucial evidence, including the judiciary’s official travel policy, a document he said proved that Justice Torkornoo’s family trips were legitimate and not an abuse of office.
Mr. Otoo claimed that the committee failed to review the judiciary’s official travel policy, which he said was presented as key evidence to prove that Justice Torkornoo’s travels with her family were not illegal.
According to him, the travel policy showed that the Chief Justice was entitled to travel with one person of her choice, and that all official travel arrangements and entitlements were processed by officers within the judiciary, not personally by the Chief Justice.
“When these entitlements come, it is not for you to determine anything. You only decide whether you want to travel. Once you indicate, the officers work out your entitlements and bring them to you. You are not personally involved,” he explained.
“The travel policy was submitted, but the committee never referred to it. She was entitled to travel with one person of her choice, and she did so,” Mr. Otoo stated.
