By Fatou Sowe

The managing director of Skye Bank, Mr Doyin Adegbulugbe has informed the commission of inquiry probing into the financial dealings of former President Jammeh that the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has four accounts with his bank.

He revealed that the corporation has two US dollar accounts, a dalasi and pound sterling account with his bank.

Mr Adegbulugbe was recalled to the commission to produce documents on the bank accounts of Gambia National Petroleum Corporation.

He disclosed that the dalasi account was opened in 2012 and at the time of the opening the signatories were Teneng Ba Jaiteh, Momodou OS Badjie and Fafa Sanyang (current Energy Minister). According to him the shareholders of GNPC are the Gambia Government 80%, NAWEC 10% GAMTEL 4%, GIA 3% and GPA 3% and is as per the memorandum of association.

He further produced the account opening information with respect to the dalasi account and statements of accounts from 1st January, 2012 to 21st August 2017.

Account opening information and statements of accounts were admitted as evidence. He said one US dollar account was opened at first and that the second one was opened on the 30th May, 2012 with the same signatories as the dalasi account.

However, he said on the 13th August, 2013, the bank received a letter instructing the change of signatories to ex- President Jammeh and Momodou Saballly and the change was effective the next day.

Mr. Adegbulugbe further testified that at the time of changing the signatories the balance in the account was $4, 215, 329.28.

While giving evidence on the withdrawals that were made on the second dollar account number 1770031538 the witness disclosed that a cash withdrawal of $650,000 was done by Momodou Sabally on the 14th of August 2013 and on the 16th of August of the same year, Sabally withdrew the sum $150,000.

He adduced that there was another cash withdrawals of $650,000 on the 20th August, 2015 by Madun Sanyang. There was another withdrawal of $450,000 and $100,000 by Madun Sanyang again. On the 23rd of September, 2013, the bank received instructions from Office of the President (OP) signed by Momodou Sabally and the ex-President to the transfer of the sum of $224, 900 from this dollar account to the Organization of Islamic Corporation (OIC).

According to Skye Bank boss there was another withdrawal of $200,000 in December by one Sanna Jarjue; adding that the sum of $77,288 was debited in July 2015 to BPI Tourism and Services.

He highlighted among other transfers made to individuals like Teneng Camara, Ahmed Gitteh and Sheikh Omar Bittaye as tuition fees and stipends among other enterprises from this account.

Former Managing Director of the Gambia National Petroleum Corporations GNPC, Momodou OS Badjie has said that the corporation spent over D600,000 to purchased 11 air tickets for the late Jamaican Musician Frankie Paul Dance Band.

Badjie made these revelations before the commission of inquiry set up to look into the financial activities of the former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates at the Djembe Beach Hotel, Kololi.

According to Mr. Badjie, the said directive came from the Office of the former president which he said was paid without delay.

The former GNPC Managing Director told the commission that they are a public enterprise owned by the government before changing into a corporations as it was a registered company.

Former Managing Director Badjie admitted to the commission receiving directives from the former President Yahya Jammeh. He revealed several requests from the Office of the President to provide $1 Million and $45, 300 to the President Empowerment for Girls Education Project PEGEP in 2006 respectively. He also mentioned a $20, 000 to the Office of the President plus $303, 000 to Calabasas, California, saying he does not know the purpose.

Badjie further revealed another sum of D10 Million to Dr. Njogu L. Bah, former Secretary General for the rehabilitation of the prisons in 2012.

“I don’t know whether the money was spent on the prisons rehabilitation,” Former MD Badjie said.

Badjie said he could not recall who the Director of Prisons was at that time.

He made mentioned of another directive from the Office of the President to provide a sum of $500, 000 handed over to Momodou Sabally, former Secretary General and Nuha Touray, former Secretary to Cabinet. He said the duo have signed for the money. He added that the documents could be traced at the office.

“We asked the Office of the President to allow us monies recovered from the companies dealing with oil as grants,” Badjie disclosed.

He was questioned about the said recoveries from companies which he explained as rentals, prospective licenses, sales of data and bonuses among others.

“The President gave directives to hand over all the accounts of funds from 2013,” he asserted.

Badjie disclosed to the commission names of banks they had accounts at including Guaranty Trust Bank, Trust Bank and Skye Bank among others, saying a sum of $7.3 Million was the total balance handed over to the Office of the President in 2016. The signatories to the dollars accounts were changed to the former President Jammeh and Secretary Generals at different times, he added. He told the commission that from that time they no longer had control over the the revenues coming to the said accounts.

“The Petroleum House was built by our resources with nine fuel stations in the country,” Badjie told the commission.

The financial activities of GNPC as transfers, withdrawals, prison rehabilitations and other relating documents were admitted and marked as exhibits.

The next witness was Mr. Ousman Jobarteh, the Deputy Managing Director of the Gambia Ports Authority. He confirmed the former president Yahya Jammeh’s financial activities with the country’s port authority. He mentioned some outstanding money owing to them.

Jobarteh spoke about the ports spending on the Kanilai Cultural Arena at the Kanilai Village. He also mentioned about an outstanding balance of D6.9 Million.

Meanwhile, the deputy Managing Director of the Port Authority was ordered to reappear before the commission Wednesday morning, August 30.

By Yunus S Saliu

Tourism one of the sectors that has steadily contributed to the growth of the Destination Gambia GDP for some decades was seriously hampered during the last 2016/2017 Winter Tourism Season due to the unexpected political circumstances in the destination.

Adama Njie, Director of Marketing Gambia Tourism Board in a brief interview stated that the last season, at the beginning was very promising but the political situation the country faced hampered the season.

“As we are all aware,” he said, “the first quarter of the season was very poor, of course, many flights were cancelled as almost all the major charter flights repatriated their guest back to their respective markets (destination.)”

He noted that if it wasn’t the political impasse the country’s tourism should have been in a very strong position but nonetheless it was actually beyond everyone.

Njie explained that during the last season they were having an average of about 25 flights a week which excluded the interruption of the political impasse. But in the upcoming 2017/2018 Winter Season, “we are hoping to get good season compare to the last season in particular that the country has gained a very democratic system because it will give the destination a stronger footing.

He however expressed optimism of the GTboard and other stakeholders in the upcoming 2017/2018 Winter Tourism season as he disclosed that “in 2016 many things were happening then that many investors interested in the country were sceptical but such environment is past now and the board and other stakeholders are very optimistic about the upcoming season.”Without fear, he said tourists will like to return to destination Gambia especially that everything has gone back to normal.

He went further to say that the major tour operators like Thomas, Gambia Experience among others are all coming back and the signs they getting from the booking are very impressive.

Tourism, he reiterated, is key to the development of any country particularly The Gmabia and GTBoard, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture or the tourism fraternity cannot do it all alone because it is everybody’s business “but if we all work together for better Gambia we will see a different tourism image to the Smiling Coast.”

By Fatou Sowe

“Maligam was under investigation at the NIA so I do not have any documents on Maligam.” Ansumana Jammeh, owner of Maligam said to the commission of inquiry.

He was initially asked to bring in numerous documents on the several companies he mentioned last week. During Monday’s proceedings, Ansumana brought with him the annual bank statement of transactions of the Patriot Insurance Brokers from the 31st December 2015 to 31st December 2016.

However, he failed to bring the documents regarding the Royal Africa Capital Holdings on reasons that his request was refused because he is a minority shareholder. He then produced a letter written and signed by one Prince Ebrima Sanyang saying that he cannot get the documents unless the commission writes to request for the documents.

Maligam he said was under investigation with regard to its financial transactions as a result of which he was taken to mile two prisons.

“I was charged and taken to the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on allegations of financial misappropriation. I was prosecuted and convicted in 2016 and later pardoned by the president.”

He said he was the Gambian ambassador to Qatar for 6 years and that he was there with M S Njie who was the deputy ambassador also responsible for the finances.

He revealed that he does not recollect any $4 million Grant to the Gambia. When asked by counsel Amie Bensouda about what benefits the Gambia gained during the 6 years he served as ambassador, Jammeh said many Gambians went to Qatar and got employed and they are still there and it was during that time that the Qatari government appointed an ambassador to the Gambia.

He said that APAM and the Patriot Insurance Brokers companies were operating in the same office at the Standard Chartered House in Fajara which he believes was owned by the Former President.

Lawyer Surahata Janneh, Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry has told Dr. Njogu Bah, former Secretary General to name any of the close associates of the former President Yahya Jammeh to the commission.

The former Secretary General when asked to name any close associate of the former president kept quiet for a moment before suggesting to the chairman of the commission to rephrase the question. The chairman refused to rephrase the question, saying he only asked a simple question. He repeated the question again.

“I did not ask any legal jargon,” Chairman Surahata Janneh said.

Former Secretary General Bah smiled at the chairman of the commission of inquiry who asked him about the reason for his smile saying, the commission is very serious about things but the witness said he was smiling at his own dilemma.

Chairman Janneh then questioned him about the reason for his dilemma while reminding him to tell the truth as he was sworn before the commission.

“Who do you know who were frequent or close associates of the former president during the time you were Secretary General,” Chairman Janneh repeated.

The former Secretary General appealed to the commission to allow him to refresh his mind before his next appearance.

Meanwhile, he was ordered to come to the Secretariat tomorrow relating to files from the office of the president.

By Omar Wally

A Lebanese Businessman, Fadi George Mazagi has appeared before the commission of inquiry set up to look into the financial activities of the former President Yahya Jammehat the Djembe Beach Hotel, Kololi.

Mr. Mazagi told the commission about the country’s electricity and water company NAWEC owing $65 Million to Euro Africa Group, a company which he is a shareholder and Managing Director. He reported that the company is owing $40 Million to local banks including Trust Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Access Bank and Eco Bank among others. It also owed another $25 Million to Total Fuel Company.

The Euro Africa Group is a partner to Global Trading Group, a foreign company dealing with Water Resources and Development WARD for the electrification of West Coast and supplying of electrical equipment for the rehabilitation of electricity in the Greater Banjul Area. The company’s shareholders were Manhal Oueidat and Bilal Barsi, a nephew of Muhemmad Barsi. He was reportedly the owner of the Falcon Company.

“Euro Africa is dealing in the importation and sale of fuel in the Gambia,” he said.

The Global Trading Group was reportedly managing the Water Resources and Development Limited.

The Memorandum of Article was admitted and marked as exhibit.

“The Brikama Power Plant is my own project,” Fadi George Mazagi disclosed.

He has confirmed to the commission about his role of supplying 600 Megawatts Generators to NAWEC, Kotu Power Plants and also building the Brikama Power Plants.

Mr. Mazagi was questioned about the purchased of 32 fleet vehicles for the Office of the President which he explained was the Euro Africa Group that paid to the supplier.

“Mr. Fadia, this commission is dealing with facts,” Lead Counsel, Amie Bensouda said.

The transaction documents were admitted and marked as exhibits.

The witness was questioned about the Multi Shipping Agency Limited that was registered in the Gambia which he said 49% was owned by Tony Ghattas. He was further questioned about the Global Electrical Group GEG and GNSS. He was asked to provide the Memorandum of Article of the companies.

Mazagi was also questioned about the Petrol Gas Limited that acquired the Shell and Galp Companies in the Gambia.

“I am the shareholder in my offshore company with my nephew,” he asserted.

He revealed that Mr. Lang Conteh was the Managing Director of the said company operating at the Independence Drive in Banjul.

The next witness was Momodou Sabally, former Secretary General, Head of Civil Service and Minister for Presidential Affairs.

Sabally was questioned about the withdrawal of D5 Million from the Carnegie Mineral Mining Accounts at the Central Bank of The Gambia. He said that the transactions were explained by the narratives attached to it, saying the records were kept at the Office of the President.

Speaking on the former president’s numerous executive directives or instructions, Sabally said:

“This was very tricky for most of us who worked with the presidency,” Sabally asserted.

The former Secretary General was questioned about the awarding of scholarship from the Office of the President to sponsored students for overseas programmes. He said the decisions were made by the former president. There was no advisory board.

Meanwhile, Sabally was asked about an amount of D12 Million paid to one Serigne Touba Ndure which he said was paid for a project at Kanilai.

By Omar Wally

Three men namely, Momodou Basiru Saidykhan Sarjo Signateh and Alhagie Kujabi, Monday, August 28, appeared in court to answer charges of assault causing actual bodily harm contrary to section 228 of the criminal code and Libel contrary to section 178 of the criminal code.

On the 22nd of August, the three men caught a man name-withheld accused of stealing stripped him naked and publicly flogged him. His captors recorded the video which went viral attracting strong reaction from Gambians.

When contacted Police Public Relation Officer Inspector Foday Conta, confirmed the story saying the three were arrested last Friday in Bijilo and will answer to the charges against them in court today.

A few months ago, it was announced on the media that you had donated a vehicle to the Gambia Radio and Television Services. Many of us expressed great concern over the announcement and what it purported to say. We expressed the view that in a democracy it should not be that the president should be presented as the ‘benevolent father of the nation dishing out favours as he pleases’, and that the proper channels should be followed in fulfilling the rights of the public servants.

One would have thought that lessons would learnt and that this type of presentation – or that type of reporting – will be avoided in the future. However, recently, it was again announced that the Members of the National Assembly were each being presented with a brand new vehicle for the effective implementation of their roles due to your ‘personal effort’. What your ‘personal effort’ means has not been explained; thus, it is not clear to Gambians.

Does ‘the president’s personal effort’ imply that you negotiated a loan from which these vehicles were purchased? Does it mean that through a relationship you have with a particular organisation or country these vehicles were donated? Does it mean that you insisted that the vehicles be bought from our taxpayers’ money? If the answer is the latter, then from which account? We, the People of the Gambia, demand answers to the foregoing questions.

It is no doubt essential for the National Assembly Members to have their own vehicles so as to do their work effectively. This is welcome news and should indeed be commended, but the perception that it is due to the personal kindness of the president that the vehicles were received is undemocratic. We must speak a language that is consistent with the current democratic trends. We are talking about a ‘New Gambia’, and this must not be mere rhetoric. It must be true in every way. We do not want that system of political cronyism or cultism in our nation any more.

The other concern I have regards the fact that in the past the Committees of the National Assembly which were supposed to keep government departments in check used to depend on those very departments to travel around, investigate and audit those departments. Mr President, even a person as ignorant of the workings of a government as I am, knows that this type of monitoring or auditing cannot work effectively. If Mr X has to give you fuel and allowance to come and see if he is doing his work or not, you can’t be objective. As such, the National Assembly as a whole and its various committees have to be fully equipped in every sense of the word in order to maintain their independence to do their oversight work effectively and efficiently. This will not be – should not be – kindness from anybody. We have given them a job of oversight and should give them the tools to do that work.

Have a Good Day Mr President….

Tha Scribbler Bah

A Concerned Citizen

By Omar Wally

The Leader of Gambia Democratic Congress, Mama Kandeh has said if President Adama Barrow asks him to carry a carton of medicine on his head and take to it to the people, he will do it. Kandeh said he is not doing it for Barrow but for the Gambian people.

Kandeh: I don’t see Barrow as my enemy, he is my president and I respect him and I will give him all the respect he deserves. But I will not reserve him one second, if he does something and is not in the interest of the Gambia people.

Kandeh who brought in excavators to dig-up the gutters in Banjul for the smooth flow of water in city and donated 100 bags of cement for the maintenance of the gutters made these remark on Sunday.

He declined to comment on the amount of money involved and the source of funding denying claims that the project is meant to woo Banjulians to get their votes in the upcoming election adding is meant to contribute his quote as a citizen. “Even before I start politics, I have been assisting people and I will continue to do that till the last second of my life.”

All what I’m doing is to make sure that Banjulians get a conducive environment.

He call on Gambians to come together as one nation, saying he doesn’t see other political opponents as enemies adding that they are all talking about the same country, so why should they fight.

“We all have one intention and that is to develop the Gambia and each and every one of us is saying he can do better, let us remember that this is our country, we cannot make progress when we are divided.”

By Omar Wally

The spokesperson for The Gambia Police Force, Inspector Foday Conta, has denied the arrest of former National Assembly Member for Tumana, Netty Baldeh.

It was rumored that the former MP was arrested last week by the police for being in possession of a gun without license.

Police PRO said Netty was call for questioning by the Police regarding a vehicle that was under his possession, but when it was tabled out the matter was handover to government vehicle control unit.

With regard to the gun Police PRO said Netty, has a gun with him but it was a hunting gun and it was licensed. “Police didn’t invite Netty because of the gun but he was invited because of the vehicle under his possession that is suspected to be a government vehicle.”

by Alieu Ceesay

Gambian’s Boxer Badou Jack alias the Ripper has become the new WBA light-heavyweight champion​ after defeating Welshman Nathan Cleverly in the 5th round on Saturday.

The title fight was featured on the undercard of the Mayweather-McGregor fight in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The 33-year old Badou has Swedish and Gambian heritage, but has been based in the United States for most of his professional career.

A former WBC Super Middleweight champion, Jack represented The Gambia at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

Jack moves up from the World Boxing Council (WBC) to the light heavyweight class of the World Boxing Association (WBA).

It has come to the notice of the office of the Inspector General of Police that a video of mob justice on social media where an alleged thief was seriously beaten and stripped off naked, subjecting him to the highest degree of inhuman treatment, has gone viral.

It is true that the alleged act by the suspect is unlawful, in the same vein, the reaction by the mob is equally unlawful. Therefore, the act is strongly condemned by the Gambia Police Force because it is barbaric, un-religious and totally unacceptably by law.

The Office of the IGP wishes to remind the general public that there is a provision in the law which empowered private citizens to effect arrest if they have the capacity, but must hand over the suspect to nearest police station for the due processes to be followed.

Since the government of the Gambia under the new dispensation observes the rule of law in a democratic way, the citizenry are expected to follow suit and avoid taking the laws into their own hands.

The office further takes this opportunity to reassure the General Public that the Gambia Police Force under the new democratic dispensation will at all times endeavor to observe the rule of law and protect peoples’ lives and properties amongst others, since they are part of the primary responsibility of the Police.

Finally the Gambia Police Force regrets and apologize to the general public for this shameful and disturbing video on social media, that efforts are been made to bring those responsible to justice.

By Sanna Camara

The Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia has announced that country’s gross official reserves have reached 4.2 months of imports of goods and services in August 2017.

Mr Bakary Jammeh told journalists at the Montary Policy Committee meeting on Friday that such a rare improvement has not occurred in the country in a very long time. Usually, the reserves stand at 2 to three months of imports cover, he said.

Mr Jammeh attributed this “rare improvement” to the “unwavering support of development partners, especially the IMF, World Bank, EU and the ADB.”

He said international reserves improved from $19.84million in Dec to  $112.2million in August 2017.

Quasi money increased by 24.2 % to D13.0 billion during same period.

Growth of reserve money remained same at 16.1% in June 2017.

Balnce of Payment estimates, a surplus of 3.2million compared to $1.0millin from last year.

Current account balance improved from a deficit of $38.4 million in first half of 2016 to a deficit of  $36.8million.

They decided to maintain the policy rate at 15%.

Jammeh also said at such a “comfortable” state of the economy at a lean economic season, the prospects a even better with the coming of the tourism and agriculture season.

“Central Bank may not even have to borrow from the commercial banks. Rather, we will be selling our excess forex reserves to them,” he said.