Sources have confirmed that The Gambia Government has written to Hussein Tajudeen’s lawyers reminding them that they have to wrap up their businesses before the thirty day ultimatum they were given elapses. The same sources have also confirmed the arrival of a prominent American Lawyer in The Gambia to join Tajudeen’s legal team on the ground to preside over the closing of his businesses in the country.
It would be recalled that The Office of The President had issued a press statement informing the general public that Mr. Tajudeen Hussein has been declared persona-non grata and was given 72 hours to leave The Gambia, failure of which he will be deported forthwith. According to the statement, Mr. Hussein, his family and all his business associates are banned from doing business in The Gambia due to what the statement referred to as “unacceptable business practices that are detrimental to the Gambian economy.” Mr. Tajudeen Hussein was also given thirty days (30 days) to close all his businesses within the Gambia. Shortly after this statement came out, Tajudeen’s lawyers wrote to the Presidency for an extension as thirty days according to them was not enough to wrap up a multi Million Dollar business, but their request was not approved. Hussein Tajudeen is the owner of TAJCO which is the biggest importer of rice and flour, and also has subsidiaries that include the Kairaba Supermarket chain. Tajco is based in Banjul, the capital city.
Adding to the confusion is the revelation made by sources close to the family that the Tajudeen family never received a letter from The Government regarding this drastic decision. According to them, they only got the news through an announcement on The Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) during a 10pm news broadcast. Tajudeen, a Gambian resident for sixteen years, is also said to have gained his Gambian citizenship eight years ago when The President granted him honorary citizenship. This left many wondering why he was declared Persona non grata and asked to leave the country within 72 hours. He was not in The Country when his expulsion was announced.
As to the actual reason why this one time close ally, business partner, and confident of Jammeh is suddenly being treated in such a harsh fashion, an employee privy to inside information explained that Tajudeen’s fall from grace started when “he (Yaya Jammeh) asked for 4,000 cartons of chicken, 5000 cartons of tomatoes, 5000 twenty-liter drums of cooking oil and an additional eight million dalasis ($200,000) for his 50th birthday anniversary celebration that we (Tajudeen co.) could not do at that time. Tajudeen was not in town and his children could not approve the request, this was what angered the President and resulted in the expulsion and closure of Kairaba Shopping Centre and Tajco.” The distressed employee continued “Tajudeen has over a thousand staff in The Gambia, what will be their fate?” He asked angrily.
Meanwhile, 120 containers of Tajco shipments of foodstuffs for shoppers of the busy Holy month of Ramadan are currently sitting at the Gambia Ports Authority for two weeks now. This will lead to shortages, which will evidently lead to higher prices that the poverty stricken population cannot afford. Prices of basic commodities like rice, sugar, onions, flour, and cooking oil will be highly affected. Tajudeen is also the biggest tax payer in The Gambia, and in fact is said to have on occasions paid tax obligations to The Gambia Revenue Authority in advance, especially in times when the GRA needed finances urgently. The business community in The Gambia is also said to be troubled by this new development since most of their goods are supplied by Tajco.
Hussein Tajudeen is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the United States government and his business is alleged by the U.S to be part of a multinational network that has generated millions of dollars for Hezbollah, described by the White House as being “among the most dangerous terrorist groups in the world.” Reports have indicated that The United States sanctions imposed in December, 2010 targeted a network of businesses owned or controlled by Tajudeen and his brothers in the Gambia, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the British Virgin Islands.
Muhammed Bazzi, a close associate and business partner of The Gambian President is said to be excited about the expulsion of Tajudeen because it eliminates a competitor of the flour business that he jointly owns with President Jammeh.
It is important to note that The Gambia has expelled Hussein Tajudeen before, but he was later given a presidential pardon and permitted to return. So who knows – Yaya may yet again change his mind just when it suits his needs and desires.
