Essa Faal on Wednesday tore into Baba Saho a former official of the NIA after he tried to suggest the TRRC counsel wasn’t the one doing all the work at the TRRC, although he looked so to many.
“If you talk about the TRRC, the first person they will talk about is Essa Faal…,” Saho who was testifying on allegations of torture said.
“Look Mr Chair, it’s the same example we received yesterday it’s the same example Bishop objected to, they are playing from the same hymn book. They are one and the same, Peter and Paul. They are giving us the same crap. They are feeding us the same falsehood,” Essa Faal said. He was referring to Foday Barry who had made similar comments when he appeared before the TRRC on Tuesday. The duo worked together at the NIA.
“So you wouldn’t allow me to land?” Baba Saho fired back at Essa Faal
Faal said he could not because “you’re feeding us the same falsehood that we heard yesterday”.
“You’re depriving me of my right to talk,” Saho told Faal.
Faal in responding said: “No, I’m not depriving you of your right to talk. I’m telling you the commission is not accepting or receiving that answer because it’s the same falsehood we received yesterday.”
“Whether it’s the same answer or not, you’re denying me,” Saho insisted.
Faal then said: “It’s so shocking, it’s disappointing, it’s laughable that you and Foday Barry will give exactly the same answers, using exactly the same words. It is laughable. This is not a game.”
Later on Wednesday, Faal clashed with Saho again when the lawyer said what the former NIA official saw as being popular could be seen as notoriety.
“I think that’s an insult, Mr chairman that’s an insult,” Saho told Faal.
“I’m characterizing the evidence,” Faal replied.
“No, you’re characterizing us. You said ‘this is why you’re so notorious’,” Saho fired back.
Faal responded that the witnesses said “you were torturers”.
“Mr chairman please I don’t expect that word from him that we are so notorious,” Saho responded.
The TRRC chairman in intervening said Faal was placing on record what witnesses say. Saho again reacted that he did not expect that from Faal.
“I will not apologise for saying that. The same stunt was pulled yesterday. ‘Withdraw that word, don’t use rude’,” Faal said.
At least nine people all accused Saho of torturing them but according to the former top investigator, “there’s never a time that I tortured these people”.
