The former Secretary to Cabinet Mr. Nuha Touray has said that the former Secretary General, Head of Civil Service and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Mr. Momodou Sabally was sacked by the former president Yahya Jammeh for advising him to not spend millions on ferry slips at the Banjul, Barra and other terminals.
Touray made these revelations at 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.
Touray said the former Secretary General Sabally advised the former president not to approve the business because he does not trust the transaction.
“He suffered the consequences of losing his job,” former Cabinet Secretary Touray said.
The former Secretary to Cabinet told the commission that the lightest punishment that one could get from the former president was to be sacked, saying other consequences could be grave. He said one could be sent to prisons or possible disappearance. He lamented about the working conditions under the former president.
“The former president exercises power with aggression,” Touray asserted.
He added: “He was mean and a bully.”
Touray said the former president’s executive directives were across the board even mere messengers were dismissed on executive directive.
Commissioner Bai Mass Saine asked why he did not resigned but he said one cannot afford to resign only to lose 25 years of service with all your benefits.
“I can safely say many of the directives were unconstitutional,” he added.
When the Commission Counsel, Amie Bensouda asked the reason he was keeping records of things.
“I knew a day of reckoning will come,” Touray responded.
He added:”I didn’t know it will be so soon.”
Counsel Bensouda took him through various accounts some of which he was a signatory to ranging from the International Gateway, Sand Mining, Tax Recovery and National Development Accounts among others. He was also questioned in respect to withdrawals received by him some of which were substantial amounts. He was asked to explained.
Touray submitted dozens of supporting documents emanating from the Office of the former President, transaction documents and other related documents to the commission as evidence. These documents were admitted and marked as exhibits. He gave detailed explanation of what happened.
He reported that the State owned 3 aircrafts. He said the fleet of cars at the State House were manage by General Saul Badjie and Brigadier General Ansumana Tamba. He said he believed the former president owns Sindola Safari Lodge.
Meanwhile, the session will resume tomorrow, Wednesday, September 13, 2017.
