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.
