Lawyer Assan Martin one of the aspiring Mayors for the Kanifing Mayoral elections slated for April, has alleged that there are some political players on the ground—particularly those said to be close to the coalition led government, who are allegedly engaged in voter inducement and buying of voters’ cards ahead of the polls. Martin said in some localities voters’ cards are being bought from voters for D300 dalasis per card. He was speaking on Sunday, during Freedom Radio Gambia’s Leral show.

Mr. Martin wants to run as an independent, but he said he is not closing his doors to other contenders, who shared the same goals and objectives with him as far as the development of the municipality is concerned.

According to the Gambian human rights lawyer, some of the prospective mayoral candidates have started pumping money, rice and other inducements to the KMC electorate.

“There is an ongoing voter inducement and vote buying taking place in the KMC. There are some aspiring Mayors, who are in the business of buying voters cards from some of the electorate. I was told that one aspiring candidate went to one ward and offered to buy voters cards from the residents of the locality. Voter buying some be discouraged. This is not what we fought for. It defeats the main purpose of the political change. Candidates should sell their agendas to the voters and not to engage in vote buying. I, for one, will never induce a voter. I rather articulate my agenda to them than buying their votes,” Mr. Martin remarked.

Martin will not name names of the political actors engaged in such electoral malpractice, but he maintained that some of the perpetrators had ties with the coalition government.

“There are some aspiring candidates, who are engaged in road maintenance—all geared towards fooling voters. No one knows the source of their funds. The electorate are very smart. No one can fool them. If they sincerely want to develop the municipality, they should come up with programs and policies rather than trying to hoodwink the voters with cash and bogus road maintenance substandard projects,” he said.

Mr. Martin also raised the issue of lack of high standards in the upcoming Mayoral elections. He said some of aspiring candidates are virtual illiterates-who can barely read and write basic English.

“The minimum requirement for one to contest as a Mayor is to possess a Secondary school certificate. Sadly, some of the aspiring candidates are secondary school dropouts. They didn’t finish secondary education. People are emerging from all over the place saying that they want to run as a Mayor,” he said.

UDP Dilemma

There are so many candidates who want to run under a UDP ticket. The son of Amie Bensoud and one Papa Njie are among the candidates interested in contesting under a UDP ticket.

“The UDP is in a big mess. There are so many candidates, who want to run under a UDP ticket. At the end of the day, the UDP can only present one candidate,” Martin said adding that it is only the UDP leader Ousainou Darboe, who can explain how the party intends to resolve its internal fight for mayoral position.

Martin doesn’t think that Papa Njie can pose as a threat to the other candidates, even whereas he was backed by the incumbent. Like Papa Njie, Martin said he too has been engaged in community work and youth empowerment lectures across the municipality.

IEC’s Malleh Sallah

Assan Martin said Mr. Malleh Sallah is a fine Gambian, but at the same time he warned that Sallah should avoid conflict of interest as the number two man of the electoral commission. He said it was ethically wrong for Sallah to reach a contract with the government by hosting the Janneh Commission at his hotel, when the same Malleh Salleh has been bestowed with the responsibility to organize and supervise elections in the Gambia.

“I trust Malleh Salleh. He is my former schoolmate at Saint Augustine’s, but I don’t think it is ethical for him to engage in commercial business ventures with the government, which has stake in our electoral process. There are parties that formed the transition government,” he added.

Martin said Gambians should raise the political bar higher by ensuring that our newly found political freedom is jealously safeguarded. He said politics of deception and inducement should be a thing of the past.

Finance Minister Sanneh

Martin also picked on the Finance Minister Amadou Sanneh during his Freedom radio appearance. He said Sanneh has no excuse to blame Jammeh for the current economic turbulent.

“We know for a fact that a lot of money has been pumped into this country from donor partners and financial lenders since this government came to power. Gambians should keep an eye on the government especially in the area of budget allocation and disbursement. Our meager resources should be judiciously managed,” he said.

A young lady was allegedly murdered and dumped at a Manjie-kunda street corner, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. Marks of wounds were visible on the lady’s face. The incident happened on Sunday evening—in a broad daylight. Her killer(s) are at large, as Manjie residents were taken aback by the gruesome murder meted out to this unidentified young lady.

The news of the lady’s murder came to the attention of this medium late Monday, following a whatsapp audio message shared by a Gambian lady, who claimed that the lady was found dead next to their Manjie home. She said a passing taxi driver found the lady’s body lying on the street corner—next to their family home. She also said the murdered girl was not a resident of Manjie.

The circumstances surrounding the incident is unknown. The Freedom Newspaper contacted ASP Foday Conta, the Assistant Spokesman of the Gambia police force for comment, but Mr. Conta asked to be given time until Tuesday, so that he can update us on what actually transpired. Conta confirmed the incident, but said he needed time to shed light on the story.

The position of Interior Minister is vacant in the Gambia. The Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou has been asked by the president Adama Barrow to oversee the portfolio until a substantive replacement for the sacked former Interior Minister Mai Fatty is hired. Reports have it that the president is on the verge of announcing a new appointment for the vacant post soon. He is likely to appoint a new Interior Minister before the end of the week, sources said.

The post Gambia: Breaking News: Lady Murdered And Dumped At A Manjie-Kunda Street Corner! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Police in the Gambia have identified the lady, who was found dead in Manjai-Kunda as one Vanisah.  Ms. Vanisah’s nationality and actual age are yet to be determined. Some suspects have been taken into custody according to the police. “On Saturday 26th November, 2017 at about 07:00hrs a body of an adult lady was found dumped along the streets in Manjai Kunda.The matter was reported to the Police in the Kanifing Region and a team of police investigators were dispatched to the area. After the necessary procedures the investigators drove the body to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul. Investigation continued and some people were arrested in connection to the matter which include Mr. Sheikh Hydara. During the process of the investigation, it was revealed that on Saturday night 25th November 2017, Miss. Vanisah whose nationality and age is yet to be known came to Lynnes Lodge in Manjai Kunda with a man who was identified to be Sheikh Hydara a 34 year old of Tallinding,” Police Spokesman ASP Foday Conta told the Freedom Newspaper in an email sent to this medium.

“During the interrogation, Mr. Hydara explained that as he was with Miss. Vanisah having drink at a local bar, they decided to go into a lodge where he paid for a room. He stated that Miss Vanisah decided to take shower whilst he was waiting. Suddenly after a while, he notice that Vanisah fell in the bathroom and blood was oozing from her nose. During the early hours of Sunday morning, he decided to get her in his car with the help of some people in the lodge. However, after a thorough investigation led by the regional police commissioner Landing Bojang and the Regional Crime Management Coordinator, ACP Pateh Bah, it was suspected that there could be foul play surrounding Miss. Vanisah’s untimely demise,” the PRO added.  Below is the police’s version about what transpired..

……………………………………

On Saturday 26th November, 2017 at about 07:00hrs a body of an adult lady was found dumped along the streets in Manjai Kunda.

The matter was reported to the Police in the Kanifing Region and a team of police investigators were dispatched to the area. After the necessary procedures the investigators drove the body to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul

Investigation continued and some people were arrested in connection to the matter which include Mr. Sheikh Hydara.

During the process of the investigation, it was revealed that on Saturday night 25th November 2017, Miss. Vanisah whose nationality and age is yet to be known came to Lynnes Lodge in Manjai Kunda with a man who was identified to be Sheikh Hydara a 34 year old of Tallinding.

During the interrogation, Mr. Hydara explained that as he was with Miss. Vanisah having drink at a local bar, they decided to go into a lodge where he paid for a room. He stated that Miss Vanisah decided to take shower whilst he was waiting. Suddenly after a while, he notice that Vanisah fell in the bathroom and blood was oozing from her nose.

During the early hours of Sunday morning, he decided to get her in his car with the help of some people in the lodge.

However, after a thorough investigation led by the regional police commissioner Landing Bojang and the Regional Crime Management Coordinator, ACP Pateh Bah, it was suspected that there could be foul play surrounding Miss. Vanisah’s untimely demise.

In the meantime, the body of the late Vanisah is at the mortuary of the EFSTH for a medical examination to further help in the investigation. Whilst the suspect Sheikh Hydara is under police custody helping the in their investigation.

Police Deputy PRO

ASP Foday Conta

The post Gambia: Gambian Police Identified Lady Found Dead In Manjai-Kunda; Foul Play Not Ruled Out; As Police Detained Suspects! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The Gambian Ambassador, Femi Peter, has been exonerated by the landlord of a proposed new residence at Spur Road, Akram Dager, with regards to information about the Ambassador being involved in a rental scandal.

He apologized for any embarrassment he might have caused to the Ambassador. According to Dager, it was due to a phone call he received from the Ministry of Foreign Affair Officer in Gambia that he will not be paid a dime by the Gambian government for his building.
He highlighted that “it frustrated me so much that I barricaded the gate of the Ambassador but for the intervention of senior officials from Sierra Leone Foreign Ministry who prevailed on the Gambian Head of Chancery to place a call to his superior in Banjul.”

Dager has provided proof that the matter has been resolved as they have signed undertaking by the Gambian Head of Chancery that accrued rent will be paid within three days from the date of signing the undertaking.

They were supposed to pay $250,000 USD for five years, but since the Ambassador has only spent five months in the new residence, they will now pay for the five months he has spent in the residence which is $20,000 USD.

The proposed building was meant to serve as both the office of the Gambia Ambassador and also serve as the Chancery of the Gambia High Commission giving way for the current chancery to be renovated and leased to commercial entities so as to raise fund for the Gambia government to handle projects.

According to Ambassador Peter, “It was my plan to save the new Gambia government money and the same time raising the image of the country in Sierra Leone.” Adding that he is willing to move out of the structure.

An initially approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the request by the Gambia Ambassador, Peter, for a change of accommodation but when the head of chancery Ebrima Camara was alleged to asked the landlord of the propose property for the commission and the landlord refused for three reasons, which are $50,000 for furnished two apartments in a compound with a serviced generator, because the tenancy agreement will be for five years and also his family working relationship with the Gambia community in Kono for the past twenty years dealing in diamond business.

MJB/23/11/17

By Mohamed J. Bah

Source: AWOKO Newspaper

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A Gambian High School female student has been expelled from school, following what was described by the school authorities as a “dirty dance” that the minor was engaged in with another young male student. This followed a video featuring the girl and her co male dancer, which was shared on social media. The video immediately went viral—prompting Gambian High School authorities to summon a meeting to discuss the fate of the young girl.

The girl nearly exposes her body during the “Jamaican style daggering dance” with her male friend. She laid on the ground, while the young dude climbed on top her. Other students from the Muslim High School could be seen on the video watching the dancers. There was a DJ at the dance fest, which attracted so many onlookers.

There is no immediate word about the fate of the male dancer, but his female partner has been expelled from the school.

Principal Lamin Jaiteh was quoted as saying that the student body at the school also demanded for the student to be expelled from the school. He said it was a difficult decision for the school to arrive at such an extreme disciplinary measure against the girl.

“Coincidentally I happened to visit Gambia High School today to a none related issue of the expelled student, but I did have the chance to invoke the topic and got some insights from the Principal Mr. Jaiteh at the vice principal’s office name Oustas and discussed with them and came to know more of what led to the student’s expulsion and I was convinced by Mr. Jaiteh that the decision was a very hard one, as the girl herself does not want to be at the school no more, coupled with the student body made it clear that they don’t want the student there either and I don’t know the rules of the school or the power the student body got to make demands, but I was assured by the principal that they are willing to help her settle in another school/environment to avoid the negative psychological impact, but yet still there is not a single person from the girl’s family that came to the school to discuss the issue, which I confirmed when I talked to one ****** ******a cousin that the student used to live with,” Omar Jallow, a concerned Gambian wrote on his Facebook timeline today.

“Now my point is: A magnitude of this case, where a child is about to lose her chance to education, but yet still none of her family members is coming to her defense; all in the name of our stupid cultural norms that tend to make us believe that we Gambians are saints and if one’s child is disgraced the whole family is disgraced and in the process the family will divorce the child for making a mistake that we are all entitled to as human beings. I also learned from the cousin that the father of the girl is deceased, which in my opinion and I could be wrong the reason no one showed up at the school to contest the unfortunate expulsion of the student,” Jallow added.

According to Mr. Jallow, the Principal of the school Lamin Jaiteh was very receptive when he visited the school to investigate the girl’s case.

“The principal Mr. Jaiteh was accommodating and was open to talk about it and you can see in his face that he was not proud to expel the girl as an educationist, he is on the payroll of the education department to help kids, not to destroy them and him telling me that makes me feel like retracting the words I used on him “Destroying ones Child” on my previous post. I know me and most were emotional and sympathetic to the girl that we raved and ranted on the decision made by the principal and the school and rightfully so we did, but now the focus should be on how to help the girl resettle in another school just like the principal suggested, but unfortunately until the time I left the school none of the girls relative showed up to show concern,” the former Raleigh, North Carolina resident explained.

“I was also told by the vice principal that the school have counselors to help students, but the student herself chose not to be around, because of fear and shame and with that I believe if she is help and console she can regroup herself and continue were she stopped as she learnt her mistake and with the negative attention this girl is getting, i think this would have been a good time for those responsible for issues like this and the NGO’s to step in and help a helpless girl at the moment.. Demba Baldeh, Pa Nderry MBai… You guys can help wipe this girls tears by making a special segment about her on your mediums and in the process alert the authorities responsible to act now,” he pleaded.

Reacting to the girl’s expulsion from school, Pa Samba Jow, a Gambian human rights activist said it is rather unfortunate that the school authorities at Gambian High resorted to such a draconian decision.

“Well, I really feel sorry that this young girl was expelled from school; and this has been the case for a very longtime; and we have really revisit it because the video I saw; I saw two people dancing. There was a boy and a girl; why is it that every time issues like this happened; it is the girl that suffered the most; and I believe the student did wrong, but the heavy handedness approach by the school doesn’t help the situation. I think it is important for our country to start guiding the misguided; and not trying feel that everybody has to live through this high moral standard,” said Mr. Jow.

“ We just came away from a situation were the Imams were supposed to be people of high morals; sold their souls to a dictator for the mighty dollar and yet you wanna expect these young girls and young boys to live like this self-righteous or righteous people. It is going to be a challenge; I think the expulsion was excessive; and I believe it is not fair that the only person paying for this because I have not heard anything happen to the boy; it’s the girl. We have to do away from that. I believe this girl must be given a second chance to learn her lesson.  And I also want to appeal those who have been sharing the video to stop because this girl has been abused enough. She made a mistake, but this should not be the end of her life,” Mr. Jow noted.

Mr. Jow has called on Gambia’s Human rights activists, including gender activists to come together and put a solid defense on behalf of the expelled female student. He said the actions of the Gambia High school authorities amounts to gender discrimination adding that it is was totally wrong for the school to expel the female student and leave the male student.

The Principal of Gambia High School Lamin Jaiteh is a native of Kaur. He is a career educationist. He served as a Principal at then Kaur Secondary School. He was jokingly called his students at Kaur ” MASIBOO” Masiboo is a Mandinka word meaning in English ” a very Awful thing or disaster.

The post Gambia: Breaking News: Gambian School Authorities Expels Female Student For Engaging In “Dirty Jamaican Dance” With A Male Student! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

“Captain Ebou Jallow, as the single signatory to the account instructed the Central Bank to transfer $ 3million dollars to a foreign account. I don’t have the details anymore because the files are gone. This transfer was effected. When the statement of account, we render reached the office of the Chairman Yahya Jammeh, we were alerted that the instructions were inappropriate and without authority. Now, the Governor of the Central Bank of the Gambia, the Attorney General at the time; I can’t remember whether it was Awa Ceesay Sabally, or Pap Cheyassin Secka, Modou Kaba Bajo, and myself went to Geneva in an effort to recover these funds. The government had appointed lawyers to help us recover the funds back. Now, a substantial portion was received not in US dollars, but in Swiss Francs amounting to 2.9 million Swiss Francs, which at the time was equivalent to $ 2.7 million. $2.7 million dollars was recovered,”  Abdoulie Cham, AKA Kapu Cham, the former Financial Controller at the Central Bank of The Gambia told the Janneh Commission on Wednesday.

Mr. Cham started working with the Central Bank of the Gambia, in March of 1977, as a banking clerk. He then rose through the ranks until his forced retirement in 2003.

Mr. Ebou Jallow was the spokesman for the former AFPRC military junta. He lives in New York City.

Both former Captain Jallow and Captain Edward Singhateh were the signatories to the government account at the Central Bank. Though Singhateh’s signatory membership to the account was later withdrawn—leaving Ebou Jallow to be the sole signatory to the account, according to Kapu Cham.

The $3 million dollar Ebou Jallow instructed the CBG officials to transfer to a foreign Bank account, was part of the $35 million dollars loan facility that the former military junta had borrowed from the Taiwanese government. Out of the $35 million dollars Taiwanese loan facility, according to Mr. Cham, $30 million was deposited to the government account at the Central Bank, leaving a balance shortfall of $5 million dollars.

Prior to Edward Singhateh’s removal from the account as a signatory, both Singhateh and Ebou Jallow came to the Central Bank on two different occasions to deposit dollar cash amount to the said account. The first dollar cash deposit that was made by the duo was in the sum of $2 million dollars; and the second deposit was $220,000 dollars.

Mr. Jallow then flee the country as soon as the bank transfer that he requested from the CBG officials was made, Mr. Cham said.

The Gambia government sent a delegation to Genva to pursue the stolen $3 million dollars allegedly by Captain Ebou Jallow. It hired a team of lawyers in Switzerland to ensure that the funds were recovered.

But per Kapu Cham’s own testimony, $2.7 million dollars was recovered out of the $3 million dollars. The remaining $300,000 remains unaccounted for.

Mr. Cham’s testimony has confirmed that Ebou Jallow did made the illegal bank transfer in the sum of $3 million, but there was no mention of Jallow cashing out the funds in Geneva. Although, a substantial amount deposited in the Geneva account remains unaccounted for.

“There was no signatory to the account after Ebou Jallow left the country. The account was operated on verbal instruction from the president to the Governor, who would sent Baba Jobe to the bank,” he said.

Explaining the circumstances that led to the opening of an account at the CBG called “Special deposit 3 M Accounts” Cham said the funds lodged in that account were kept in dual currency; US dollar and dalasi currencies.

“These two accounts formed the balanced sheet for the accounts. These accounts were opened in accordance with set down rules on account opening. Account opening forms and cards were sent to the Chairman of the APRC Captain Yahya Jammeh. Initially, there were two authorized signatories to the account: Captain Edward Singhateh and Captain Ebou Jallow. The account was to be operated on their joint signatures. Captain Edward Singhateh’s signed signature was withdrawn and communication was received to that effect. He has never used the account. No other person has used the account other than Ebou Jallow, which we are coming to. Ebou Jallow continues to be the sole signatory,” he said.

“Now the Central Bank has written to the Chairman of the APRC Yahya Jammeh, detailing how the account was to be operated. This was done under my signature and that of manager banking operations. I don’t have any of the documents because our services were terminated 10^th of November 2003. On Friday, the 14^th I was called to handover those relevant files to the then Governor Famara Jatta. I did that on the morning of Friday. So, all those files are with him,” he added.

Famara Jatta died some years ago. He served as Finance Minister under Jammeh’s rule.

“Then, transactions in the account began. The Central Bank had expected to receive $35 million dollars. This was not a grant, but a loan. The loan resettlement schedule correspondence was available to the Central Bank with regards to the $35 million dollars. Now, an amount of $30 million dollars was wired to the account—showing a shortfall of $5 million dollars. Now few days after this receipt, Captain Edward Singhateh and Ebou Jallow came to the bank and deposited $2 million dollars cash. Another $220,000 dollars was deposited few days later. Now the source of these funds was not known. The cash deposits; whether it was the balance of the $5 million dollars, we do not know. But in the final analysis the account we opened was funded in the amount of thirty-two million and two hundred and twenty thousand dollars ($32,220,000),” Cham said.

Mr. Cham said the funds came from Exim Bank of Taiwan. He said an account was opened in Citibank New York, including in the Gambia.

“The funds that we were going to receive; we were going treat them as off balance sheet. Now, acting upon the instructions of the Governor, I made arraignment for a special bank account to be opened especially for these funds. Now, that effect an account was opened at Citibank New York Account Number: 36114627,” Cham testified.

APRC RICE

Mr. Cham went onto explain how the exiled Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh exhausted the $30 million dollars Taiwanese loan facility. Part of the funds was used to order rice from a Belgian businessman.

“Now, how were these funds used? To dampen public fears and anxiety, to continue in the availability of food stock; the first transactions were for the importation of rice. These were done through a Belgian Zerge Mueller. Three consignments of rice were ordered through Mr. Mueller.  He was brought to the bank from the office of the president by Baba Jobe. He was introduced to the Governor by Baba Jobe. He came to the bank because payments were to be made to Mr. Mueller for the importation of the rice. It was paid though his foreign bank account. He came to give the details and it was paid to his bank account,” he testified.

“Now, the rice was delivered to the APRC militants; to sell and deposit the funds with the AMRC for the onward remittance to the account of the Government of the Gambia at the Central Bank. The proceeds of these sales were never received. Now the Central Bank wrote to the Managing Director for the payment two hundred million dalasis which was expected from the sale proceeds of this rice. We received a not so polite reply from the APRC. Mr. Momodou Lamin Gibba was the Managing Director at the time. And the reply is in the AMRC file with the Central Bank,” he added.

TAIWANESE WERE USED TO PURCHASE DAILY OBSERVER

According to Mr. Cham, the Daily Observer Newspaper Limited was bought from the funds the government loaned from the Taiwanese government. The government bought the Daily Observer from its proprietor Kenneth Y Best, a Liberian journalist, who was expelled from the Gambia by the former junta headed by dictator Yahya Jammeh.

“Now, from the proceeds of that loan, the Daily Observer was purchased. The Daily Observer was purchased from the proceeds of that loan. It was purchased from Kenneth Y Best for an amount of $268,000 dollars. That was paid to Kenneth Best,” Kapu Cham revealed.

Mr. Cham did not disclose the parties, who were assigned by the Gambian state to oversee the purchasing of the Daily Observer. He testified that borrowed funds from the Taiwanese government were used to buy the paper from Mr. Best.

Mr. Best resettled in the United States with his family, following his unceremonious expulsion from the Gambia. He later returned to his native country, Liberia, after the decade long war. His newspaper, Daily Observer Liberia, has since resumed publication.

“In addition to that, a property was purchased in Morocco for five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) US dollars. Payment was made to SADINIA, a limited liability company. Cash was being drawn from the account from the authority of both the President and the Governor. Other payments from the account include payment for the construction of Arch 22 and Banjul international airport. The Arch 22 was about one million dollars,” he said.

Mr. Cham said an amount of $28.5 million dollars was overdrawn from the government account at the Central Bank.

Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai

The post Gambia: Breaking News: Ebou Jallow Flees The Gambia, As Soon As He Instructed Central Bank Officials To Transfer $3 Million To A Foreign Bank Account-Kapu Cham appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

In his testimony regarding GamPetroleum today at the Janneh commission, Gambian tycoon Mr Amadou Samba said that he paid D9, 434, 250.00 in capital gain tax following the sale of his shares to the government. 

He told the commission that he is no longer a shareholder at Gampetroleum, as he had already sold his shares to the Gambia government, when the government requested for his shares to enable them to have controlling shares in the company. He added that initially he owned about 9 % shares. Government decided to buy him off because they said that Gampetroleum is a strategic company to the country. He said that it was because of his civil work, providing basalt and other materials, that he was given shares in the company.

He added that he had a meeting with the government who was represented by Mr Kebba Touray who was the finance minister at the time, the governor of the Central Bank, Gambia Ports Authority and  Social Security. He said he sold his shares to the Gambia government at book value. The value was determined by Deloitte and Touche.

According to him, the shareholding of the company was distributed as follows: Social Security 31%, GPA 10%, GNPC 7%, Amadou Samba 10%, Bazzi 31.5% and Fadhi 10%. When he sold his shares, government then had the controlling shares.

He then tendered the necessary documents showing the share worth and the amount of money he paid in capital gain tax, which were entered in evidence. He added that he contracted an independent audit firm Deloitte and Touche to do the evaluation and mathematics for him. After that he paid his taxes in full.

It would be recalled that Mr Samba had testified previously that he never got into trouble with Yahya Jammeh because he always paid all his taxes in full and on time, so much so that he was decorated by the Gambia Revenue Authority.

On the other hand, it would also be recalled that the chairman of the commission of inquiry Saharata Janneh and the lead counsel to the commission Mrs Amie Bensuoda  are notorious tax dodgers, who were indicted by the Mama Singateh Tax Commission in 2013 for evading tax to the tune of one million dalasis and six million dalasis respectively.

The post Gambia: “I Paid Over 9 Million Dalasis In Capital Gain Tax,” Amadou Samba Tells Janneh Commission appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

A mother-of-nine who left her children and husband of 23 years for a toyboy 12 years her junior has said he is determined to marry him.

By RORY TINGLE FOR MAILONLINE

Heidi Hepworth, 44, left husband Andy for 30-year-old Mamadou Jallow from Gambia after a ‘mid-life crisis’.

Mrs Hepworth had never been abroad before, but abandoned her nine children to fly out to be with him in the Gambian capital, Banjul.

 Heidi Hepworth, 44, left husband Andy for 30-year-old Mamadou Jallow from Gambia after a ‘mid-life crisis’

 Mrs Hepworth had never been abroad before, but abandoned her nine children and husband Andy(pictured) to fly out to be with him in the Gambian capital, Banjul

Mr Hepworth, also 44, who says the ordeal has been difficult for their children, as young as six, is convinced his wife’s lover has brainwashed her.

He said: ‘A caring mum wouldn’t go off gallivanting around Africa with her new boyfriend. The person she has become is horrible. She was a loving, caring mum.’

But Mrs Hepworth defended her actions, telling The Sun: ‘I don’t have a single regret. I’m not a terrible parent.

‘It was really hard for me to leave my kids, but they couldn’t come with me so I had no choice.

‘We are in love and nothing will stop me from marrying him. If other people don’t like that they will just have to lump it.’

The couple have six children together and Mr Hepworth has raised the three children she had from a previous marriage as his own.

+5

+5

 Mrs Hepworth(pictured) defended her actions, saying: ‘I don’t have a single regret. I’m not a terrible parent

After she went to Gambian capital Banjul concerns were raised about the three youngest – aged six, nine and 11 – by a neighbour because Mrs Hepworth’s absence was so unusual.

However, police later found them staying legally with their 29-year-old sister.

Mr Hepworth, who served in the Royal Navy for four years, added: ‘She had three children from a previous relationship but I brought them up as mine. We then had six of our own.

 The couple have six children together and Mr Hepworth has raised the three children she had from a previous marriage as his own

‘In becoming this new person she forgot about her family and they’re the most important people in all this.’

Mrs Hepworth previously told The Sun she had ‘drifted apart’ from her former husband.

Nearly half Gambia’s two million population live in poverty, and the average income is £8 per week.

SOURCE: DAILY MAIL UK

The post Gambia: ‘Nothing will stop me from marrying him.’ appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Heidi, 44, defends her actions saying she didn’t abandon her kids and insists she is marrying Salieu.

WALKING hand in hand on a tropical beach, Heidi Hepworth and Salieu Jallow look like lovers in the first throes of romance.

By Robin Perrie

In fact she is a 44-year-old mum of NINE who left her husband and kids for her new man, who is 12 years her junior.

GLEN MINIKIN – THE SUN

Last month Heidi’s heartbroken husband Andy, also 44, spoke of his ­horror at discovering his wife of 23 years had gone off to meet Salieu, who had contacted her on Facebook from The Gambia, West Africa.

Her decision sparked a police investigation and Andy said: “It’s a mid-life crisis. The person she has become is horrible.

“A caring mum wouldn’t go off ­gallivanting around Africa with her new boyfriend.”

Now, speaking exclusively to The Sun, Heidi has defended her actions, saying: “I don’t have a single regret. I’m not a terrible parent.

GLEN MINIKIN – THE SUN

“It was really hard for me to leave my kids, but they couldn’t come with me so I had no choice.

“I was shocked at the anger that was directed at me for supposedly abandoning my children. That just didn’t happen.”

Heidi has two sons and a daughter aged 24 to 29 from a previous relationship. She and Andy have three daughters aged six, nine and 23 and three sons aged 11, 17 and 18.

She added: “The three youngest were left with my eldest daughter. She moved into my home while I was away so that they were disrupted as little as possible.

GLEN MINIKIN – THE SUN

“I went online every night and we video-chatted. They seemed happy and I know my kids well.

“They also chatted to Salieu and have become very fond of him through talking online over the past few months.

“If people think I went over to The Gambia and didn’t give them a second thought, they are so wrong.

“But having said that, I make no apologies for following my heart. I’ve been unhappy for a long time and I think I have found someone to spend the rest of my life with.

GLEN MINIKIN – THE SUN

“We are in love and nothing will stop me from marrying him. If other people don’t like that they will just have to lump it.”

Heidi’s romance rocked her family and made her the talk of her town, Hetton-le-Hole in Sunderland.

Car mechanic Andy blamed her online romance for killing their marriage but Heidi insists the relationship was over before Salieu first sent her a Facebook friend request.

She also claims Andy was messaging women online behind her back, which he denies.

NORTH NEWS AND PICTURES

Heidi said: “Andy and I didn’t even share a bedroom, never mind a bed, for the last two years of our marriage.

“We were both unhappy and on some days the most conversation I would get from him would be when he’d say, ‘Put the kettle on’.

“At the end of last year I picked up his phone to look up a number my daughter wanted and saw messages from two women. It was a big shock.

“We drifted even further apart and I was so unhappy. I started volunteering at the children’s school, just so I had some contact with other people and could feel better about myself.

GLEN MINIKIN – THE SUN

“In February I started to talk online to Salieu after he sent me a friend request out of the blue. At first we were just chatting, asking about each other’s lives and hobbies.

“But as I got to know him I started to confide in him about how badly things were going wrong in my marriage, he was there for me to talk to.

“Andy has claimed I sent sexy pictures to Salieu, but I didn’t, that simply isn’t true.”

She added: “After a few months we were in touch with each other all day, every day via WhatsApp and I knew I was starting to develop feelings for him and he said he was feeling the same.

GLEN MINIKIN – THE SUN

“I was falling in love with him.”

Although she had never flown or even been abroad, Heidi travelled to The Gambia at the end of October to meet shopkeeper Salieu in person for the first time.

But locals back home were furious at her arrangements for her three youngest children.

Their school was tipped off, leading to a police investigation, but officers were satisfied the kids were being cared for properly.

GLEN MINIKIN – THE SUN

Heidi said: “I was shocked by the reaction. Anyone who knows me would confirm that my children are my world and always have been, but I believe Salieu is my future.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to be with him, but it has to mean we are all together — me, him and the children.

“I don’t know how we will achieve that, but we’re both determined to make it happen.

“It might be that Salieu comes to live with us in the UK, it might even mean we go to Gambia but that’s more complicated.”

GLEN MINIKIN – THE SUN

When Heidi first saw tall, athletic Salieu at the airport she knew instantly he was the man for her. She said: “I ran into his arms and gave him a big hug.

“He was everything I had dreamed of and more.

“He was tall and handsome and was so nice. It just felt right.

“We had fallen for each other before I even reached Gambia but after a short time with him I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him.

GLEN MINIKIN – THE SUN

“It was a romantic, unforgettable time with a loving, caring man.

“I had forgotten how it feels to be wanted that much. We slept together in the same bed and although we kissed we did not have sex because Salieu is a strict Muslim and it is forbidden before marriage.

“I respected that because I love him completely.”

During the month Heidi was in The Gambia she met Salieu’s parents, who run a small farm in the country’s Serekunda district, a few miles from the capital, Banjul.

GLEN MINIKIN – THE SUN

They spent five days in the family’s home and visited crocodile and monkey sanctuaries, went on donkey rides in the jungle and strolls along sun-kissed beaches — which Heidi said felt like a world away from home in Hetton-le-Hole.

She added: “They were beautiful times. It was wonderful to meet his family, they were lovely and very accepting of me. I was made to feel very welcome in their home.

“Salieu has made it very clear my children are important to him and he has been talking to them for months in video conversations.

“He told me that my family would become part of his family, which proves how much he cares.”

GLEN MINIKIN – THE SUN

After her month in The Gambia, school worker Heidi had to return to the UK but she is already planning her next visit — and the rest of her life.

She said: “I am going to marry Salieu when my divorce comes through and I’m prepared to convert to Islam if that’s necessary. If people don’t like that they will just have to lump it. I’m not going to cry about it.

“We’ll be together, one way or another, whether Salieu comes to live here or I find a way to take the children to The Gambia.

“When I left him at the airport in Banjul it was one of the hardest things I have had to do.

GLEN MINIKIN – THE SUN

“We were both in tears but I swore I would go back, and nothing will stop me.”

Heidi knows that cynics will claim her new lover is more interested in a British passport than life with her.

In The Gambia nearly half of the two million population exist below the poverty line.

The average wage is £30 a week and marriage to a “toubab” — a white foreigner — is seen as a meal ticket. But she said: “He’s not like that.

GLEN MINIKIN – THE SUN

“He isn’t looking for a passport or anything like that, he is happy in Gambia.

“He fell in love with me, not the idea of a new life abroad.”

SOURCE: THE SUN THE UK

The post Gambia: Mum-of-nine says she doesn’t regret leaving kids for Gambian toyboy and nothing will stop her from marrying him appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Professor Abdoulaye Saine of the Ohio Miami University said if it is true that president Adama Barrow fired Mai Fatty, the former Interior Minister on the basis of an alleged wrongdoing on the part of Fatty, then the president shouldn’t have redeployed him to the Foreign Service. Notwithstanding, the respected political science professor noted that in the interest of accountability and transparency, the government should tell Gambians what must have occasioned Fatty’s firing to avoid unnecessary speculations.

Dr. Saine is a tenured professor with the Miami University. He is a Gambian native and has been living in the United States since the seventies. He was speaking in an interview with Freedom Radio Gambia on Friday.

According to Saine, President Barrow’s decision to fire Mai Fatty, has clearly confirmed that he (Barrow) is in charge of the country. But on the same token, he said the president should endeavour to name and shame fired officials linked to alleged corruption practices. He added that he doesn’t know Mai Fatty, but pointed out that Fatty’s firing has generated a lot of rumours and speculations.

“The best way to avoid rumours and speculations is for the government to state the reason why certain officials are fired. In the case of Mai Fatty, I expect the president to tell Gambians why he let him go. There has been a lot of speculations since his firing. And this is not helping. We should end this culture of “SUTURA.” Gambians deserve to know why Mai Fatty was fired,” Saine said in the wollof dialect.

Amie Bojang Sissoho, president Adama Barrow’s Director of press told the local press in Banjul that Mai Fatty was fired in the best interest of the country. Although, she didn’t elaborate further as to why Fatty was fired.

For Dr. Saine, since the Gambia is now an open democratic society, the government shouldn’t shy away from exposing fired officials. He was quick to point out that he was not suggesting in any way that Mai Fatty was fired for alleged corrupt practices, but Saine said Mr. Barrow wouldn’t fire Fatty without a reason.

Gambia needs anti-corruption court

Professor Saine also called on the Barrow government to set up an anti-corruption court to combat official graft. The proposed court, he went on, will hear cases of corruption involving public officials. This, he said, will not only promote good governance, but will it will also restore public confidence in the government.

Saine said once the court is constituted, it will avail justice to corrupt public officials. He said the police can also effectively do their job by ensuring that corrupt officials are taken into custody and tried accordingly.

Barrow’s donated 57 vehicles to the MPS

Professor Saine said he met president Barrow during his recent trip to the Gambia. He was accompanied by his wife, and Ebrima Dibba, a Gambian diplomat and also a supporter of the United Democratic party (UDP) during that visit to Mr. Barrow.

Mr. Barrow, he said, is a humble leader, who is committed to unifying Gambians. He said with Barrow, Gambia’s future is assured.

But notwithstanding, Mr. Saine said the president should avoid accepting gifts from people, who might be trying to curry favours from him. He cited the 57 vehicles that were donated to the president by an anonymous philanthropist. Mr. Barrow in turn donated the vehicles to the Members of the National Assembly.

Dr. Saine said the president ought to have declined the donation and advised the donor to channel his donation to sectors such as the health delivery system, energy, and agriculture. He said such vehicles could have been used to transport sick people to our hospitals, or buy drugs for our pharmacies.

VP Fatoumatta Tambajang Jallow

Professor Saine praised VP Fatoumatta Tambajang Jallow for her immense contribution during the democratic liberation struggle to send Jammeh packing. He said he knew Ms. Tambjang when he was going to school at Armitage. Ms. Tambajang was his senior at school.

Saine said he has no doubt that Ms. Tambajang is an asset to the Barrow government and will contribute her role towards national development. He recalled experiencing difficulties at the port of Banjul, when he wanted to clear his SUV truck and was over billed by some alleged corrupt custom officials. Saine immediately emailed the Vice President Ms. Tambajang to complain, and the matter was resolved. All it take was for the Vice president to intervene and he was asked to go and pay D75,000 dalasis to clear his truck.

He refused to be lured into any bribery scheme. Saine said he insisted in paying the required port handling fees and taxes without using a backdoor to clear his vehicle. It was after the Vice president’s intervention that he was able to clear his vehicle.

The post Gambia: Breaking News: President Barrow Shouldn’t Have Redeployed Mai Fatty To The Foreign Service; As Prof. Saine Calls For The Setting Up Of An Anti-Corruption Court! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

President Adama Barrow on Saturday presided over a successful celebration marking his one-year old government. The president was dressed in a white tshirt featuring his own picture, in which a Gambian youth group have rallied behind Barrow’s support and presidency. Leaders of the coalition government attended the event, including the sacked Interior Minister Mai Fatty.

A beaming president Barrow appeared confident. He travelled through the busy Westfield intersection under the escort of armed security personnel. He waved at the crowd and bystanders on the busy highway.

The one-year victory celebration was held at the Buffer-Zone football park. The event was marked by cultural music entertainment.

Adama Barrow is a former Real Estate Developer. Prior to ascending to the presidency, Barrow served as the Treasurer of the United Democratic Party (UDP). The UDP is headed by Ousainou Darboe, Gambia’s Foreign Minister.

Late Saturday evening, two MPS said to be associated with the United Democratic party said they boycotted the event on the basis of national interest. One of them said the victory celebration was uncalled for—citing the monumental developmental challenges facing the new government. He cites the economic hardship in the country and coupled with lack of drugs in our hospitals.

He said many UDP MPS will not attend the event. The MP alleged that there was a conspiracy behind the victory celebration. He claimed that the UDP party, and its leader Ousainou Darboe were not involved in the so-called celebrations.

Although Mr. Darboe was in attendance at the event. He accuses the organizers of the event of trying to undermine the UDP; ultimately to create a dent in the party.

“They are trying to create the impression that without the UDP, Gambians want Barrow and they will standby him. They are out to destroy Barrow, as they did to Yahya Jammeh. That’s why we are not going to attend the event. Some of our MPS might attend, but be rest assured that a good number of us will not grace the occasion,” the UDP MP said.

Fakebba Colley MP for Kiang West recorded a whatsapp message and was circulated within the Kiang West Forum. The MP told his constituent that the one-year anniversary celebrations was a misplaced priority.

“I am not going to attend the event. I have a reason for not attending. It has nothing to do with Barrow’s Youth Movement. It is my firm belief and conviction that if the coalition government wants to celebrate its one year in office, our party the UDP and its members should have been invited. That never happen. My consent was never sought. I would have told them my response. We are with the UDP. Ousainou Darboe is our leader. We are supportive Adama Barrow and his government. But on the same token, I am against the celebrations.  As far as I am concerned, the event was a misplaced priority event. I rather concentrate on uplifting the living conditions of my people than to attend such a wasteful fanfare event,” said Mr. Colley said in the Mandinka dialect.

With the coming up of the Barrow Youth Group, political observers said the transition president might be paving the way to build a new political structure—ultimately that would outshine the UDP—Gambia’s biggest political party.

It should be noted that Mr. Barrow had to resign from the UDP, in order to be able to contest as an independent presidential candidate, who was backed by eight political players in the game. He defeated long time Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh, following what observers called a highly contested elections.

Mr. Barrow, who was onetime branded as a presidential rookie and also a political underdog, is seemingly holding a firm grip of power. His apparent post transition presidential ambition is irreversible. The new Youth Group will help propagate his long term presidential ambition.

Mr. Barrow has been widely regarded as a humble, calm and steady leader. He is in the good books of the government in neighbouring Senegal. Analysts believed that with Barrow overseeing the wheel of power, the country’s stability is guaranteed. He is comes from a diverse ethnic background. His Youth Movement Tshirts bears the inscription: “ GAMBIA FOR ALL.” Meaning he is going to preside over an all-inclusive Gambia—irrespective of one’s tribe, color, creed, or ethnic background.

For now, the UDP, which claims to be the biggest party and had one of its former members Adama Barrow running the state, is being steadily sidelined by the day. Mr. Barrow runs the state for now. Mr. Darboe’s power base is diminishing.

Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai

The post Gambia: “I Got This Under Control,” Barrow’s Picture Depicts; As UDP MPS Boycott Anniversary Celebrations! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

John Aycoth former lobbyist for the exiled Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh, has debunked claims made by Abdoulie Cham, AKA Kapu Cham, the former Financial Controller at the Central Bank of The Gambia, who claimed in his testimony before the Janneh Commission that on August 24^th, 2001, the sum of $800,000 dollars was paid to Mr. Aycoth’s EAW Group Lobby Firm bank account on the instructions of Yahya Jammeh. Setting the record straight during a Freedom Radio Gambia interview on Saturday, Mr. Aycoth said he is not denying that $800,000 dollars was paid to his account, but was quick to point out that neither Mr. Cham, nor the Central Bank of the Gambia were involved in the said transaction. He said the funds were wired directly to his company’s account by the Central Bank of the Republic of China on Taiwan. The funds were meant for the purchase of 36 trucks SUVS, a bullet proof BMW, and spare parts for the former dictator.

“What Mr. Cham is saying is partially true. The $800,000 dollars was wired, and I have discussed this before in previous radio interviews. And, the document came out of the trial in 2005, when I sued president Jammeh and the government for nonpayment for the year of 2002, which as you may know; I was hired by the president and terminated; which he cannot do,” Mr. Aycoth said.

“Mr. Cham said in his statement that on 24th of August 2001, that $800,000 dollars was paid to my company EAW Group on the instructions of the former president. I just want to clarify to both you, your viewers and listeners, and to the people, who make up this commission; I was paid $800,000 dollars then to purchase a number of trucks SUVS and bullet proof BMW; but the president and the Central Bank never paid that from the Republic of the Gambia. That money was transferred directly to me, from the Central Bank of the Republic of China on Taiwan. So, that thing I want to clarify; the appearance of what Mr. Cham is saying is that; that he and the Central Bank paid it of Gambia and that is not true. And I think he is supposed to be truthful when he testifies. So, that’s my response. The money was sent directly to me, from the Republic of China on Taiwan Central Bank, and we have the documents to proof that it came from Taiwan; not the Republic of the Gambia,” Mr. Aycoth clarified.

According to Mr. Aycoth, the Embassy of the Gambia in Washington DC was involved in the purchase of the vehicles. The late John P Bojang was the Gambian Ambassador to the United States at the time. He described the late Mr. Bojang as the president’s cousin.

Mr. Aycoth therefore vehemently dismissed Mr. Cham’s claims. He said the only person he dealt with from the Gambia during the procurement of the vehicles was Yahya Jammeh.

“My understanding from what the president told me, is that he told the Taiwan Ambassador that he needed the money transferred. So, there was no involvement from the Central Bank of the Gambia; that’s my understanding. The president told me, at the time that he has given the invoice for the vehicles and the spare parts to the Ambassador of Taiwan; and he said he would transfer the money; and then the president called me, and told me, it would be coming from Taiwan; that Taiwan agreed to pay,” the American lobbyist tells Freedom Radio.

“And, you got to understand the additional money between the vehicles purchased and the $800,000, also included the funds to ship all of that out of the port of Baltimore to Banjul.There were no funds transferred to me, from the Central Bank of the Gambia to me at all. The only time that funds were paid to me directly was from the Taiwanese government,” he posited.

When asked whether he has ever dealt with Abdoulie Cham, John replied in the negative. “I never heard of the man. The only person I dealt with concerning the contract between my company EAW Group and the Republic of the Gambia, was with the Finance Minister Famara Jatta. That was the only person I have ever dealt with and that was with the presence of the president; I had meeting with him at his office, or he will come see me at my room at the hotel; I was staying at the Coconut hotel,” he said.

Further asked as to whether there was any impropriety in regards to the $800,000 dollars that was transferred to his account by the government of Taiwan; whether he has done anything wrong?  Mr. Aycoth had this to say: “Well I didn’t do anything wrong. The president asked me to get him these trucks SUVS on behalf of the government; on behalf of the office of the president; and I think 36 vehicles; and all the spare parts; and the spare tires; and then of course we had included the shipping fee, which was quiet substantial; and remember that was not part of my job description under my contract with the government; that’s outside of it; and of course in the judge’s ruling; the Federal judge in our case against the Gambia; she ruled that I was repeatedly asked to do things that were outside my contract on behalf of the Gambia by the president.”

Aycoth said the Embassy uses its tax-exempt status to ship the vehicles from the US to the Gambia. He said he will be more than willing to testify via a video conference call to the Janneh Commission if subpoenaed.

Aycoth has over the years led an aggressive campaign to name and shame the former Gambian despot. He said Jammeh should be arrested and extradited to face trial in the Gambia for financial crimes and crimes against humanity.

Read the full interview we had with Mr. Aycoth in our subsequent edition.

Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai

The post Gambia: Breaking News: American Lobbyist Debunks Kapu Cham’s Testimony; As EAW Group CEO Set The Record Straight! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Hatib Drammeh is president Adama Barrow’s pick for Interior Minister, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. He replaces Mai Fatty, who was sacked few weeks ago. Mr. Drammeh’s appointment is yet to be officially announced by the state. But sources close to the presidency said Drammeh has been hired to head the Interior Ministry.

It would be recalled that Mr.  Drammeh was arrested and slammed with eleven count criminal charges during Jammeh’s rule. His case was presided over by Justice Monageng of the High court. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Habib Drammeh, ex-Director General of The Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA), on Tuesday, July 24, appeared before Justice Sanji Monageng at the High Court on eleven criminal charges, the Foroyaa Newspaper reported. He was represented by counsels Sydney Riley and Amie Bensouda in that trial which lasted for months.

Habib is a brother to Lawyer Amie Drammeh, the lead counsel to the Janneh Commission. He and Amie shared the same mum and Dad. 

Per the Point Newspaper, “Count One of the offence charges that Habib Drammeh in the Republic of The Gambia on the 12th of July 2005, in a petition titled Reinstatement as director-general of GTA  to the President of the Republic of The Gambia, a public  servant alleging wrongful suspension, gave information among others to wit: an independent audit investigation commissioned by the Board cleared me of any wrong-doing which you know or believe to be false intending thereby to cause your re-instatement as the Director General of the Gambia Tourism Authority, which the president ought not to do if the true state of facts contained in the Investigative Audit Report Into The Land and Financial Transactions of GTA dated 22nd December 2003, were fully disclosed to him in the said petition.”

According to Count Two, Habib Drammeh in the Republic of The Gambia on the 12th  of July 2005 in a petition for Re-instatement as director general GTA, to the president of the Republic of The Gambia alleging one Momodou Sallah caused your wrongful suspension, gave information among others to wit: an independent audit investigation commissioned by the Board cleared me of any wrong-doing which you know or believe to be false intending thereby to cause the president to use his lawful power to the annoyance of the said Momodou Sallah, a former Secretary of State for Tourism and Culture.

According to Count Three, Habib Drammeh in Kololi, Kanifing Municipal Council, in the Republic of The Gambia between January 2002 and December 2003, while holding public office as the Director General of the Gambia Tourism Authority in breach of sections 6,7 and 10 of the Gambia Tourism Authority Act 2001 approved the payment of four hundred and fifty thousand dalasis (D450,000)  from the funds of the Gambia Tourism Authority to Home Finance Mortgage Company Limited for the settlement of your personal housing loan debt without the knowledge, disclosure, consent or authorization of the Board.

According to Count Four, Habib Drammeh in Kololi Kanifing Municipal Council in the Republic of The Gambia between January 2002 and December 2003 while holding public office as the director General  of the Gambia Tourism Authority corruptly  or dishonestly abused the office for private benefit in that you caused the payment of Four Hundred and  Fifty Thousand Dalasis(D450,000) from the fund of the authority to Home Finance Mortgage Company Limited for the settlement of your personal housing loan and thereby caused financed loss to the Gambia Tourism Authority.

Count Five read that Habib Drammeh in Kololi Kanifing Municipal Council of the Republic of The Gambia between January 2002 and December 2003 while holding public office as the Director General of the Gambia tourism authority corruptly abused the office for private benefit in that you directed and caused the payment of the sum of twenty-eight thousand five hundred and twenty-two dalasis(D28,522) the property of The Gambia Tourism Authority to Shyben Madi & sons Ltd for the repair of your private car Peugeot  406 with registration number KM 6236 A.

Count Six states that Habib Drammeh in Kololi Kanifing Municipal Council, between  January 2002 and December 2003, while holding public office as the director General of the Gambia Tourism Authority willfully caused  twenty-eight thousand five hundred and twenty-two dalasis(D28,522) to the Gambia Tourism Authority being payment made from the funds of Gambia Tourism Authority to Shyben Madi & Sons Ltd for the repairs of your private car Peugeot 406 with registration No KM 6236A pursuant to your directives.

Count Seven, states that Habib Drammeh in Kololi Kanifing Municipal Council between January 2002 and December 2003, while holding public office as the Director General of Gambia Tourism Authority dishonestly acquired a plot of land located at Brufut Heights property of the Gambia Tourism Authority and valued at three hundred and seventy-five thousand dalasis(D375,000) without paying for same.

Count Eight, states that Habib Drammeh in Kololi Kanifing Municipal Council, while holding public office as the Director General of Gambia Tourism Authority recklessly or dishonestly caused financial loss of three hundred and seventy-five thousand dalasis(D375,000) to the Gambia Tourism Authority being the value of a plot of land located at Brufut Heights property of the Gambia Tourism Authority which you allocated to yourself without paying for same.

Mr. Drammeh is also facing similar charges of economic crimes to an amount ranging from D4,338.95 on Count 9 the same figure on Count 10, and D49,750 on Count 11.

Many at the time believed that Mr. Drammeh was a victim of malicious prosecution by the former dictator’s government. His lawyers argued in court that the prosecution’s case against Drammeh was weak and untenable. His case attracted both local and international attention. He was subsequently fired from the former Jammeh system.

Mr. Drammeh comes from the Sarahule ethnic group. His appointment has been widely hailed in some quarters. There is no available record linking him to any of the registered political parties. Although, he has no security background.

With the coming of Hatib Drammeh, as an Interior Minister, observers believed that the politicization of the Ministry will be a thing of the past. Drammeh is expected to run the Ministry without an unnecessary interference from the political actors who formed the coalition government.

The post Gambia: Breaking News: Barrow Appoints Onetime Jailed Tourism Director Interior Minister! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

A leading Gambian politician and onetime Jammeh Local Government Minister Lamin Waa Juwara is the first Gambian politician to endorse and welcome president Adama Barrow’s newly formed Youth Group, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. Mr. Juwara is not among those who are opposed to the setting up of the Youth Movement called “ President Barrow National Youth Movement Front.” Juwara is of the view that there is nothing wrong with Gambian youths to rally support behind president Barrow’s government. He opines that such a move is a laudable one and should be embraced by Gambians.

“I think it is welcome; really. Absolutely everybody has the freedom of association in the Gambia currently; and if there are youth who admired Barrow to the extent that they want to come together and form any formation that is going to support him, I think there is nothing wrong with that because currently Gambia is a completely different Gambia. People are completely free, and freedom of association is welcome at any level as long as it is for the good of the Gambia,” said Mr. Juwara.

Mr. Juwara’s health condition deteriorated following his release from jail. He was jailed by the former dictatorial regime of Yahya Jammeh on land dispute related matter—concerning the dictator.

Juwara said the newly set up Barrow Youth Group is normal in any democratic dispensation as far as he is concerned. He said the Barrow government is so far doing well despite the daunting developmental challenges it inherited from the former APRC government. He said the new government should be supported by all and sundry so that it could realize its set developmental goal for the country.

“The Barrow government is doing a fabulous job. A lot has been registered during this short period of his rule. The government inherited a mess from the former regime. It is going to take some time before it would meet our developmental needs. But so far, as far as I am concerned, president Barrow’s government is on track. It is doing fine,” Juwara told me during an interview on the line to Brikama.

For Mr. Juwara, the good thing about the new Gambia, citizens are now free from political bondage. He said the new government has created an open society, in which citizens can freely associate, and express their views on national matters without having the fear of being arrested.

On the same token, the firebrand born Niamina Dankunku politician called on the Barrow government to consider tapping on the diasporan human resources pool by offering them job opportunities. He praised the Gambian diaspora for their role in standing by the Gambia and her people during Yahya Jammeh’s decades long misrule.

“There are very important; very knowledgeable people; people who stood by the Gambia all throughout and these are in the diaspora. I think there should have been recruitment from the diaspora; joining the government to be able to advise us and give us guidance; this is my feeling,” said Mr. Juwara.

Gambian human rights activist Ousainou Mbenga held a different view with Mr. Juwara. He thinks that Mr. Barrow’s Youth Movement is a misplaced priority.

“I have some serious reservations about this youth per se movement thing; based on history. The thing is, of all our knowledge; history informs us this: We have just came out of this most barbaric and horrific period of the Jammeh regime; and coming up with a youth movement and not defining what the youth movement is about and what it stand for,” said Mbenga.

Mr. Mbenga said Mr. Barrow’s Youth Group reminds him about Yahya Jammeh’s “ Green Boys” Youth Movement. He said the Green Boys were linked to all kinds of atrocities—ranging from false arrest of citizens; abduction; torture and in some occasions murder.

Some of the Green Boys had underwent military training in Libya prior to the fall of the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Jammeh created the group in defense of his so called military revolution, which toppled former president Jawara’s government.

According to Mr. Mbega, Gambian youths were victims of political exploitation during Jammeh’s rule. He said the youths were unemployed for over twenty years, while political patronage and sycophancy was the order of the day under Jammeh’s rule.

“The youths are the future of the country, as everybody says; but we want to take it beyond that; we don’t want youths who have foresight; and hindsight because what we just have come out of.  All of these youths, who are being organized by Barrow or whoever; and we don’t know for whatever reason. We don’t know what Barrow’s Youth Movement represents,” Mbenga added.

President Barrow, in his speech at the commemoration of his government’s one year rule, thanked Gambian youths for rallying support behind his government.

“Today, I am particularly pleased and privileged to launch this youth group which is named in my honour, willing, able and ready to join hands with other youth organizations across the country in pursuit of national development. Essentially, it is through endeavours like this that we can progressively harness the demographic dividends of our gallant youths. On this note it is now my honour to formerly launch The President Barrow National Youth Development Front. Let me end this address by once again advising this youth group just launched and those throughout the country as our future leaders to stay disciplined and focused on acquiring knowledge and skills necessary for nation building,” said Mr. Barrow.

Mr. Barrow also used the occasion to announce a developmental package his government has initiated to cater for the needs of Gambian youths and women.

“I am proud to announce that our national development plan 2018-2021 has now been validated. This plan has among other things; mainstream youth development; gender and poverty reduction; as well as sound fiscal and micromanagement policies; with the tendency to grow the economy; and create decent jobs for our unemployed youths and women,” Barrow remarked.

The post Gambia: Breaking News: Waa Juwara Endorses President Barrow’s Youth Movement; Ous Mbenga Rubbishes Barrow’s Youth Movement! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

In a 2014, interview with Freedom Radio Gambia, the former junta spokesman Ex-Army Captain Ebou Jallow, said he was given $100,000 dollars out of the $5 million dollars he transported by air from Taiwan to the Gambia, by the former Chairman of the AFPRC Yahya Jammeh.

Mr. Jallow told Freedom Radio Gambia that he used the $100,000 dollars to open a foreign bank account while under the employment of the former military junta. He didn’t disclose in which country, the offshore account associated with his name was opened, but Jallow said he and his fellow Council members benefited from the $ 5 million dollars Taiwan hand delivered to him for upward transmission to his boss Yahya Jammeh.

Among the Council members who benefited from the $5 million Taiwanese funds, according to Ebou Jallow, were former Captain Edward Singhateh, EX Captain Yankuba Touray, and Ex Captain Lamin Kaba Bajo. Jallow said Singhateh, Touray and Bajo were given an unspecified amount of money by Jammeh. He claimed that Edward Singahteh, Touray, and Bajo received nothing less than $200,000 dollars from the $ 5 million dollars Taiwanese funds he handed to Jammeh.

Mr. Jallow was Jammeh’s emissary to Taiwan. He said he was introduced to the Taiwanese government by one Alieu Conteh, a Gambian American businessman based in Congo. He said Conteh was instrumental in facilitating Gambia’s diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

The West African country had to sever ties with Mainland China to befriend Taiwan according to Jallow. Though, it was a difficult decision on the side of Jammeh to part company with China—given the fact that China was among the first countries to recognize the military junta at the time.

Mr. Jallow had earlier traveled to China to negotiate for loans on half of the junta from the Chinese government but without much success. The pace of the negotiations didn’t impress his boss Jammeh, hence the talks prematurely failed.

Ebou Jallow said among his assignment at the time was to lobby a loan from Taiwan to help fund the Junta’s developmental projects. At the time, according to him, the economy was virtually tanked.

The government of Taiwan, he said agreed to provide a loan facility of $30 million dollars to the AFPRC regime. He said Jammeh warned him not to return to Banjul without finalizing the deal. He was also asked if he could convince the Taiwanese government to give him some cash to bring home upon his return.

Mr. Jallow said an amount of $5 million dollars raw cash was given to him by the Taiwanese government to hand it over to the Gambian government. He flew via Belgium with briefcases filled with cash.

“ Yahya Jammeh couldn’t believe when he saw the money. He danced to the ground. He was so excited. He gave me $100,000 dollars, which I used to open a foreign bank account. I was living on that money when I came to the United States. He also gave money to Edward Singhateh, Lamin Kaba Bajo and Yankuba Touray out of the $5 million dollars I handed over to him. Singhateh, Bajo and Touray cannot deny receiving money from Jammeh. They benefited from the $5 million dollars Taiwanese loan,” he said.

Jallow said the $25 million dollars was wired to the government reserve account at Citibank in New York, by the government of Taiwan, while the remaining funds from the $5 million dollars Taiwanese funds were deposited to the Central Bank. He said the Council opened a Developmental account at the CBG, which was used to fund the Council projects.

He added that the former Governor of the Central Bank Momodou Clark Bayo suggested to the Council to open a Developmental Account at the CBG from the $5 million dollars he brought from Taiwan. Bayo is deceased now.

He claimed that Mustapha Njie, AKA Taf, Pierre Kujbai, and Amadou Samba benefited from the Taiwanese funds that were earmarked to finance the junta’s developmental projects.

Mr. Jallow also said he was given a power of attorney by Jammeh to open a foreign bank account in Switzerland on behalf of the former dictator. He denied stealing $3 million dollars from the Gambian government. Although, he admitted receiving $100,000 dollars from Jammeh from the $ 5 million dollars Taiwan loaned to the Gambia government.

Mr. Jallow told Freedom Radio at the time that he would avail himself before a Commission of inquiry after the fall of Jammeh if suspended.

The post Gambia: Breaking News: Ebou Jallow Opens A Foreign Account For Himself From The $100,000 Dollars Jammeh Gave Him From The $ 5 Million Taiwanese Funds; As He Implicates Sighateh, Bajo And Touray! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Former Jammeh aide Yusupha Sanneh has been taken into custody by the New Jersey police Department, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. Mr. Sanneh was arrested on December 4^th. The circumstances surrounding his arrest is unknown.

Yusupha Sanneh absconded during a trip to the US with the former dictator Yahya Jammeh. He was part of Jammeh’s delegation to the United Nations, when he suddenly absconded from the hotel, where both him and Jammeh were hosted.

A mugshot of Mr. Sanneh’s arrest record is available online. Sanneh is said to be 47 years of age. His weight is 170 pounds.

It would be recalled that Yusupha Sanneh was charged in absentia together Ousman Sonko, Sanna Manjang, Major Mustapha Sanneh, Borra Colley and others for allegedly causing the death Daba Marena, Gambia’s former spy chief, Manlafi Corr, Ebou Lowe, Alieu Ceesay, Alpha Bah, and Masireh Jammeh. An arrest warrant was issued for Sanneh’s arrest.

The post Gambia: Breaking News: Former Jammeh Aide Wanted In Gambia In Connection With Daba Marena’s Death Arrested By The New Jersey Police! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) is once again experiencing Heavy Duty Fuel (HFO) shortage, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. The Lebanese company contracted to supply HFO to NAWEC is running out of HFO stock. The company is owned by Masiri. He secured the NAWEC HFO contract through his buddy Alhagie Conteh, a strong supporter of president Barrow.

According to sources, there is a delay in receiving Masiri’s next HFO fuel consignment. This has caused panic at NAWEC—resulting to the supplier and NAWEC to approach Muhammed Bazzi’s Eagle Oil Company to help bailout the company.

Bazzi was the main HFO supplier to NAWEC, until Alhagie Conteh and his group took the contract from him and handed it to Masiri.

” I have learned that NAWEC has once again asked Bazzi’s Eagle company to help them with their HFO supplies because Alhagie Conteh and Masiri have failed to deliver their consignment on time,” said our source.

Now, Masiri and his partners want Bazzi to come to their aid. The Lebanese businessman is said to be in talks with NAWEC.

Bazzi was dictator Yahya Jammeh’s close associate. His business fortunes suffered a major set back when the new Barrow administration ascended power. He was stripped off his HFO oil supply monopoly status.

NAWEC is likely going to experience another load shedding—given the apparent shortage of HFO oil. This is a developing story. We will keep you posted with developments.

The post Gambia: HFO Fuel Shortage At NAWEC; As NAWEC HFO Supplier Masiri’s Oil Consignment Is Yet To Arrive; NAWEC Wants Bazzi To Bail Them Out! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

A Gambian British couple have been evicted from their rented Bundung home by president Adama Barrow’s real estate company—called Majum Estate Agency, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. The company is being managed on behalf of the president by Mamadi and Njaga, both said to be relatives of the Gambian leader.

A distraught Amie Ceesay, a mother of three kids, phoned the Freedom Newspaper from her London home in the United Kingdom on Wednesday to complain about the eviction notice that was served to her family in the Gambia, while both she and her husband were away from the impoverished West African country. She had two of her black British friends living in the property at the time of the eviction. The duo was out of the property when President Barrow’s Real Estate agents used a padlock to lock the property.

Mrs. Ceesay said her visiting British friends are currently rendered homeless in the Gambia—thanks to the lack of access to the property. The property is out of bound to Mrs. Ceesay, her family, and the two British subjects currently on holidays in the Gambia.

An eviction noticed from Majum Estate Agency and was addressed to Jainaba Ceesay, Amie Ceesay’s sister, stated that the tenants were given one month notice to vacate the Bundung house by December 6^th 2017. The reason given for eviction was “the payment of your rent should be on contract bases and not monthly. More so, is not regular.”

The property manager also said he hopes that Ms. Jainaba Ceesay will accept the eviction notice in good faith. He said a copy of the eviction notice would be sent to the Kanifing court rent tribunal.

” I want to set the record straight: The alleged rent arrears that they claimed that I owed; just for the record; my lease was due to expire on November 28^th. I went to them before the 28^th of November to make a payment of D16,000 dalasi, but they said they will not accept my payment, unless I gave them an additional one thousand dalasis (D1,000) dalasi. If you see I am in arrears is because they refused to accept my part payment. I also refused to give them one thousand dalasis (D1,000) dalasi that they requested from me,” Amie Ceesay tells the Freedom Newspaper.

“ Njaga and Mamadi are the ones running the president Real Estate company. They told me that they are cousins to the president. They also told me that I can go to anywhere and complain. They were so rude to me. They were acting like as if they own the Gambia. We tried to reach out to Halifa Sallah, but couldn’t get hold of him. Hence, I decided to contact the Freedom Newspaper to complain. They said the Gambia is now a democratic country; hence I decided to make my story heard by the world,” she added.

Mrs. Ceesay and her husband recently returned to the UK after spending some weeks in the Gambia on holidays. Her husband was engaged in an automobile accident upon their return to the UK, she said. He spent over one thousand pounds to repair his damaged vehicle, she added.

The property in question was leased out to Amie Ceesay’s sister Jainaba Ceesay. She said she was asked to pay a six month lease, but she insisted that she could only pay five months, and the landlord which happens to Manjum Estate agreed.

Her husband wanted to maintain the property until he finishes building his house in the Gambia, but down the line they received an eviction notice to vacate the property. He had plans to visit the Gambia in February next year to oversee the construction of his new home.

Amie Ceesay was in the Gambia on November 14. She said she has made frantic efforts to talk Mamadi and Njaga into to availing them with the opportunity to settle the outstanding rent, but to no avail. The two real estate agents insisted that she and her husband must vacate the property.

In another development, before going to press, Amie Ceesay contacted us to say that the eviction notice has been extended to Thursday, December 7^th.

The Freedom Newspaper contacted Mamadi of the Majum Estate Agency for comment, but he was indisposed for comment. He never attended to his Whatsapp number, when contacted by this medium for comment.

The post Gambia: Breaking News: President Barrow’s Majum Estate Agency Evicts Two Black British On Holidays In The Gambia; Hosted By Gambian British Friends! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Parliamentarian Sidia Jatta has said that left with him alone, tourism will not be funded or promoted by the government “because tourism has bring many ills into this country.” Jatta believes that tourism is a source of crime and corruption and should not be considered as a main source of income for the country.

“We must invest in agriculture, fisheries, and tourism… You know  tourism; I don’t want to talk about it too much because for me, if it is there fine; if it is not there fine; even it wasn’t there fine; because tourism has bring many ills into this country; many ills; many ills; and many ill-gotten assets; many ill-gotten property; tourism has brought into this country,” the Wuli MP told deputies during the 2017-2018 year budget deliberations.

“It has brought crime and corruption and immorality, but since it has become what they say key foreign exchange earner; question mark; but that’s what they said; but I don’t say it; maybe I will not agree with it,” he added.

Mr. Jatta argued that the Gambia is a heaven on earth provided that the productive sectors of the economy are properly tapped. Unfortunately, he said sectors such as agriculture are dead—thanks to lack of political will and commitment to revamp the sector.

“I once said here that there are three sectors in this country, which are fundamental and crucial to our development; that’s education; and that’s agriculture; and that’s health.

“But there are also drivers; economic drivers that we must inject our resources in order to be able generate more revenue without borrowing,” Jatta noted.

The Wuli MP said the Gambia cannot afford a cosmetic change in this new dispensation. He called for attitudinal change in our quest to develop the country.

“We cannot afford to be new wines in new bottles. That’s why we fought to reactionary regime. I say it here and I repeat: We cannot be wines in old bottles. There will be an explosion. We have to be new wines in new bottles. That’s what we meant; that’s what we sacrificed; the campaign went for twenty-four hours; I have never seen it in my life; twenty four hours campaign; nonstop; why because we wanted to get rid of that reactionary regime that was stifling life; stifling everything. Your Commissions are proofing that,” he said.

Mr. Jatta also questioned if the Gambia is indeed a sovereign nation. He cited the lack of sincerity among politicians to live up to their promise to the electorate.

“ Why are we behaving as if we have not sacrificed our lives to be free; to free our people; this is not enough; it is a nation. Is it even a nation? No; because it lacks something that’s fundamental; can you imagine agriculture 4.72%. According to the minister, they are allocation 4.72% to agriculture; that’s what we have generated. The rest is either a loan or a grant,” he said.

“So, 4.72% is very far from 10% and 10% is insignificant to agricultural development. But it is just a starting point; that 10%.. And the figures you been quoting; you have been given allowances more than one hundred and seventeen million. What allowance? When you have food to eat and you want allowance? Hey.. What is this? The people we represent don’t have three square meals a day. Some one square meal; go to Serre-Kunda; nobody cooks twice; only once; the rest fankung-fankung. So, this is not what we have fought for,” he added.

Jatta maintains that as long, as the government is not willing to do away with foreign aid, the country will continue to be underdeveloped.

“So, to put matters simply, honorable minister and my dear friends from the ministry of finance; I have said it; and I would have said it again; poverty will never end in this country with loans and grants. Never, ever; it will keep on going up; never downwards. How are we going to end it? We must invest the resources we have into our productive sectors; forget about this thing that they are training. You see training under one place one thousand times; what type of training? Under ministry of trade, the different sectors they are training; training, training, conference, conference; and they said there are committees. I don’t know what committees. I hope they are not giving you some money; your committees here because that’s what I have seen under the ministry of health,” he said.

Jatta also questioned the authenticity contained in the budget estimates; especially in respect of the president’s office. He wondered as to why each year the president’s office would be allocated budget to buy new furniture among others.

“So, this time we are going to open our eyes; I am sorry; we are going to open our eyes; wherever there is money, which we think is not necessary, we will take it from there and put it where we think is necessary. That’s what must do. You keep on buying furniture and it is always the same amount. What type of furniture is that? They think that we are not using our heads. It is December; we scrutinize it and say do it. This time, we have been reborn; we have been reborn; and reborn; we belong to a new Gambia; new thinking; new approach; everything will change; here everything must change; we are tired; we can defend ourselves; and that’s what we are going to ensure,” he posited.

Jatta also argued that the world would be ruled from the continent of Africa in years ahead. He said he is very optimistic about Africa’s future.

The post Gambia: Breaking News: Sidia Jatta Doesn’t Want Tourism To Be Funded Or Promoted Because He Says “It Has Brought Crime, Corruption And Immorality In The Gambia.” appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Sidia Bayo, a Gambian French national was taken into custody yesterday, as he was trying to fly out of the country, amid a bench warrant sought in court by Coco Ocean against Mr. Bayo.  He was prevented from leaving the country, as airport officials said there was an arrest warrant against the French national. He has been sued by Coco Ocean for failing to settle hotel bills he allegedly owed to the five-star hotel.

When the management of Coco Ocean realized that he was in the country, they went to a judge and secured an arrest warrant against Sida Bayo, said our source. Hence, he was taken into custody, when he arrived at the airport trying to board a flight to France.

The arrest warrant was placed at the airport and other border points of entry in the country. Coco Ocean wants Mr. Bayo and his French partner to settle the alleged unpaid hotel bills amount to over a million dalasi.

Mr. Bayo briefly appeared in court today, before he was granted bail in the sum of D1.9 million dalasis, with two Gambian sureties.

According to the Banjul based Standard Newspaper a lawsuit was filed against Sedia and one Philippe Andre Raymond Piere Etienne, also a French citizen. According to an affidavit signed by Sheikh Tijan Gaye representing Cocoa Ocean, which was published by The Standard earlier this month, the hotel alleged that on the 3rd February 2017, both defendants Bayo and Philippe booked into his hotel and took a double-bedded Presidential Villa room for 13 nights but failing to settle the bills.

Responding to the allegations in a Facebook live message, Sedia said he gave no guarantee to pay the bills because his friend Phillipe was the one who booked the villa.

“The hotel agreed with Philippe to pay the money into its account. During our stay, President Barrow was going to France. I left to prepare President Barrow’s trip to Paris. It was during that time that Sheikh Tijan Gaye, the manager, called my phone several times telling me that my friend hasn’t paid the bills. I told him I did not take the guarantee to pay the bill,” Bayo told the Standard.

“I didn’t force Philippe to stay in that hotel. I didn’t sign any document indicating that I am the one who would pay the bills. Yes we both stayed there but I wasn’t supposed to pay the bills; it was Philippe. The hotel decided to take the case to the High Court and to me this is a defamation of character,” he added.

Mr. Bayo said it was not his wish to stay in the luxurious hotel. He said his French partner booked the hotel.

“Left to me alone I wouldn’t even stay in that hotel because I have a family in The Gambia and I have a compound. But because it was a business trip that is why and I even introduced him to the ministers of foreign affairs and youth, Ousainou Darboe and Henry Gomez, respectively, before taking him to the president, Adama Barrow. It is all because of trust I took him to The Gambia. He saw the hotel himself and said he wanted to lodge there and he would pay the bill. He did pay 8000 euros when we stayed in King Fahd Hotel in Dakar with his credit card but I don’t know why he didn’t pay this time,” he said.

For now, Sida Bayo, cannot leave the Gambia. He has been barred from leaving the West African nation until the determination of the lawsuit filed against him by Coco-Ocean. He might need a permission from the court if he wants to leave The Gambia.

Mr. Bayo was contacted by phone, but he was indisposed for comment. The police spokesman ASP Conta has asked us to give him time to look into the story.

Mr. Bayo’s case was heard by the High court. It was presided over by High court Jawo. He has been scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

His bail bond was almost two million dalasis.  He was bailed by his relatives.

The post Gambia: Breaking News: Sidia Bayo Arrested At The Airport, As He Tries To Leave Town; Bayo Posted D1.9 M Bond Today Before He Could Be Released From Custody! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.