Mettle-Nunoo denies knowledge of cocaine deal

Accra, Aug. 9, GNA - Mr Robert Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, an artist, on Wednesday told the Georgina Woode Committee that he was never the Managing Director of Compuchex, Ghana Limited, the lingerie shop owned by the alleged fugitive drug baron Vasquez Geraldo Duarte David. He said Vasquez made him to draft a letter to appoint him as Deputy Managing Director of the Company in 2005 but he was yet to receive that appointment letter.

Mr Mettle-Nunoo, who described himself as an unemployed politician, was testifying at the Justice Georgina Woode Committee investigating the seizure of cocaine in a house at East Legon, near Accra, and bribery allegation against Senior Police Officers.

He said he had since October, 2005 not seen nor heard from Vasquez, who he said he believed had made a trip to Europe to secure funds for the establishment of Compuchex as a free-zone enclave company. Mr Nunoo dissociated himself completely from any drug matter as he dealt with Vasquez and pledged to assist the Committee in restoring the image of the nation, his name and that of his family of any involvement in an alleged drug matter.

According Mr Mettle-Nunoo, Vasquez had expressed interest in his paintings and later became his acquaintance.

He said Vasquez asked him to assist the Company to open a bank account and to find an auditor to streamline its accounts. Mr Nunoo said later the Company also wanted to acquire land in the free zone enclave at Tema, and Vasquez made him to sign as Consultant to the Company, and later made him to draft the letter to appoint him as the Deputy Managing Director of the Company.

Among his role was to assist the Company in developing a corporate plan in line with Free Zones requirements.

"My Lord, to date, I've not received that letter," Mr Mettle-Nunoo said, adding that he later had information from Rosa Iris Dosoo alias Rosita, a secretary and translator to Vasquez and a witness in the case, that the Police had ordered the closure of the office of Vasquez at Osu. Though he protested that it was only a court order that could lead to the closure of the office, he could not enter the office because it was subsequently locked.

During cross-examination, Mr Mettle-Nunoo said he was surprised Vasquez was alleged to be involved in narcotics, adding that that never came up in his dealings with him.

He said he realized just before an invitation by the Police, during which Superintendent Edward Tabiri, interrogated him, that his cell phone line was being bugged; so he changed the chip. He said Supt Tabiri made him aware that one of the gentlemen in the cells in connection with the investigation into the case was a relative of Vasquez.

Mr Mettle-Nunoo said he never knew Grace Asibi Asiberi, a witness in the case, was in any amorous relationship with Vasquez. Hearing continues on Thursday. 09 Aug. 06