LEBANESE MEDICINE IMPORTER FOUND WITH EXPIRED ANTI-NATAL DRUGS LEFT SCOT FREE, AS HE ALLEGEDLY BRIBED THE POLICE, AND OTHERS, SACKED DRIVER, WHO REPORTED THE EXPIRED DRUGS TO THE POLICE, HAS BEEN REINSTATED!

Pa, in another bizarre case of massive corruption, The Gambia police and the Medicine Control Agency have connived  to free a drug supplier who was found with expired medicine, Ferrous Sulphate with Folic Acid, used to help pregnant women boost their health.

The company, City Pharmacy is owned by a Lebanese, commonly known as Ala, a medicine importer who used his sons to run the company. A few weeks ago, the company sacked one of its drivers, who protested that his removal was illegal and threatened to sue the company.

But instead of suing his former employers, the driver who knows a lot of secrets of the company chose to expose them. Apparently, he knew that a large quantity of expired Ferrous Sulphate with Folic Acid have found its way back to the shelves again after the company ordered new labels with renewed manufacturing and expiry dates  from the manufacturer, which were stitched to the expired drugs to make them look new.

The company continued to sell the expired drugs under the false labels until the sacked driver reported the matter to Fraud squad Banjul, in revenge for his sacking. The police raided the pharmacy and seized the drugs and when they removed the labels they discovered that the actual expiry dates of the drugs have since expired . The company owner’s two sons were arrested immediately and held for just two days.

My credible police sources have established that the matter was settled after City Pharmacy paid huge bribes to the police and Medicine Control Agency, the regulators of medicine in the Gambia. More revelations are coming about Medicine Control Agency.

The driver who blew the whistle, unfortunately also turned from hero to villain. He negotiated with the police for him to go back to his job and he has since been rehired by the same company.

Pa, the sad thing is that no one knows how many of these Ferrous Sulphate with Folic Acid drugs have been consumed by innocent pregnant women who might have gone to develop complications leading to their deaths. These sorts of things need to be highlighted to save our country from the danger of corruption which can kill a country if not contained.

Written by a concerned Gambian

Editors note: The police spokesman Superintendent Lamin Njie could not be reached for comment. His line was unreachable when contacted late Wednesday evening.

That said, we want to state that the author’s views do not represent the position of the Freedom Newspaper.

We also want to state that the source of the above story, has been reporting accurate stories to the Freedom Newspaper.

For now, his claims are being treated as allegations until proven otherwise. We are looking forward to hearing the police and the other accused agencies side of the story.  Thanks for your kind attention.

The post GAMBIA: LEBANESE MEDICINE IMPORTER FOUND WITH EXPIRED ANTI-NATAL DRUGS LEFT SCOT FREE, AS HE ALLEGEDLY BRIBED THE POLICE, AND OTHERS, SACKED DRIVER, WHO REPORTED THE EXPIRED DRUGS TO THE POLICE, HAS BEEN REINSTATED! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The Banjul magistrates court has convicted Saja Juwara, an Assistant Registrar at the same court on charges of hit and run driving, Freedom Newspaper can report. Juwara was found guilty and sentenced to the following fines: D11,000 for count one, D10,000 on careless driving, and D1,000 dalasis. In a total he as fined D11,000 dalasis.

Juwara’s case stem from a road accident he was involved in the Jarras while traveling to Basse. He hits someone with his car and never stopped. He was later stopped by the soldiers at Pakaliba. He was later charged and taken to court.

Saja Juwara’s case was first assigned to magistrate Senghore of the Mansakonko magistrates court, but the magistrate decided to recuse himself from the case, saying that Juwara had worked under him as a court clerk in Basse. The case was subsequently moved to the Banjul magistrates’ court. It was assigned to Principal magistrate Omar Cham.

It was this past Monday that magistrate Cham delivered his verdict on Juwara’s case. He found Juwara guilty as charged. Juwara was sentenced to a fine.

Saja Juwara and magistrate Omar Cham both hailed from Basse town. Juwara is the son of Bata Juwara, a former official of the former Jammeh administration.

The post GAMBIA: BANJUL COURT PRONOUNCES AN ASSISTANT COURT REGISTRAR GUILTY OF HIT AND RUN DRIVING! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

IS PRESIDENT BARROW COMPLICIT IN GAMBIA’S ILLEGAL LAND GRABBING SCHEME?

The Freedom Newspaper recently reported the arrest of the famous Sambujang Camara, the proprietor of the Sam Real Estate Company. Sam and his co accused persons were taken into custody over the alleged assault of some residents Bafuloto. They were later granted self-bail.

Sam has been accused of demolishing peoples’ homes in Bafuloto. He is highly connected. He has strong ties with the State House in Banjul.

Nothing is going to come out from that case. We will tell you, what we know in a minute.

A State House insider said he has been seeing Sam at the President’s Office on a weekly basis. In fact, there are records available of his recent visits to the State House.

For those of you who doesn’t know Sam, Sam, is President Barrow’s close buddy. He used to work with Barrow in the Real Estate industry, prior to Barrow ascending into the Presidency. Sam used to share the same office with Barrow.

Sam is also a close buddy of Amadou Sanneh, President Barrow’s nephew. Sanneh is the one running President Barrow’s Majum Real Estate Company.

This country’s landscape is under attack. Lands are being grabbed by the likes of Sam and other dubious so-called Real Estate owners.

Innocent landowners are having their homes demolished without court order.

The authorities are complicit in the land grabbing. They aid and abet land grabbers.

Meanwhile, Sam has allocated some of his so-called estate land to the Ministry of Tourism, per insiders familiar with the deal. The designated land in question has been numbered with erected black plates in each plot of the land allocated to the Tourism Ministry.

Sam is untouchable. He has the backing of the Presidency.  His arrest was just a decoy to fool the people of Bafuloto.  As stated above, nothing is going to come out from his case.

His movements within the State House are being documented. There are good citizens around the President, and they are keeping an eye on what is unfolding within the State House.

President Barrow should dissociate himself from his old land dealers. Using them as proxies to pursue his growing appetite for land, would only endanger this country’s national security.

Poverty stricken Gambians are already paying the price. They are being forcefully evicted from their homes without legal recourse or justification. Some had died because of land dispute, some critically injured.

Just yesterday, over 50 residents of Mamuda had their homes demolished to the ground. The demolition occurred during the COIVID-19 global shutdown.

Gambians are battling with acute water shortages, constant electricity cuts, hunger, massive unemployment, and broken healthcare system and yet this heartless regime doesn’t care about their plight.

While responsible governments are helping to prevent their citizens from evictions, Barrow’s government is allowing the demolition of peoples’ home. What is happening in this country is insane.

In today’s Gambia, land grabbing, robbery, white collar crime and official corruption have now become the order of the day. Violence and criminality are on the rise.

It should be recalled that President Barrow’s predecessor Yahya Jammeh was also accused of land grabbing. A similar trend is being repeated under Barrow’s rule.

The Real Estate sector is a broken sector. It has been dominated by phony individuals.

Please concentrate on elevating  the suffering  of the people and stop the land grabbing.  We also implore you, to fight corruption. Investigate and prosecute corrupt officials.

Stop the war on rendering citizens homeless, save them from rental evictions, Please declare a moratorium on land demolitions, until the COVID-19 pandemic is tackled.

We know that your pockets supersede Gambia’s interest, but for God sake, please spare the poor during this deadly COVID-19 pandemic. We rest our case.

The post GAMBIA: STATE HOUSE INSIDERS LEAKED: IS PRESIDENT BARROW COMPLICIT IN GAMBIA’S ILLEGAL LAND GRABBING SCHEME? appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The Mamuda land dispute crisis is far from over. As we pen this dispatch, Mr. Bojang’s demolition team are preparing to resume the demolition on either Monday or Tuesday. The angry villagers are also planning to organize a protest march to stop the demolition exercise.

Mamuda is located in Kombo South, in the West Coast region of The Gambia. Dozens of private properties have been demolished to the ground, leaving many residents homeless.

This followed mounting tensions over the weekend amid a land dispute crisis, leaving dozens of homes demolished, homeowners burning tyres, and barricading roads opposing the demolitions exercise. The police intervention unit (PIU) were deployed to the scene of the protest march to restore calm in a community located in the West Coast region of The Gambia.

A native of Jambour is claiming ownership of the disputed land. He was accompanied by the police and judicial officials to execute a purported court order that he claimed was granted to him to demolish homes in that locality.

But the angry villagers said they were not aware of any court order which justified the demolitions. They have accused the Jambour man of illegally demolishing their properties.

The Mamuda residents have been scheduled to meet with the police Commissioner of the West Coast Region on Monday. They are expected to raise their grievances during that upcoming meeting.

The Friday protest march was defused by the police. The police were onsite to plead with the protesters to give peace a chance.

According to judicial sources, the demolition exercise would resume in Mamuda as scheduled. Sources said there are other homes that are yet to be demolished in that village.

The Jambour man is determined to resume to the demolition exercise as scheduled, our sources said. The villagers have also been rallying each other to stop the planned resumption of the demolition exercise.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: ANGRY MAMUDA HOMEOWNERS ARE BRACING UP FOR ANOTHER PROTEST MARCH ON TUESDAY! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

“It is official, I’m engaged! Alhamdulilah!,” Fatu Camara wrote on her Facebook page. If this statement of Ms. Camara is to go by, she has found her new man, whose name she did not disclosed.  But her sister is seemingly aware of what is going going as, she congratulated her on her page. “Congratulations!!! I am so happy for you Fatou Camara and my new brother in law,” Fatou Mariama Camara wrote.

Ms. Camara’s late night announcement of her engagement would no doubt break the Internet in Banjul. Already, according to sources close to Fatu Camara, her phone is being bombarded with messages and phone calls from loved ones, and who want to know who this lucky man is.

Fatu’s new man must be very lucky. He has succeeded in winning over Gambia’s Oprah Winfrey.

“Damn it, I wasted too much time. Congratulations to you,” one of the commentators of her page remarked.

It appears that the recent Internet troll on her from her detractors, has landed her a new man. Few days ago, she was taking the heat on a fake picture of her that was circulated on social media.

Gambia, we yet know know who this “supposed lucky man is” but once his picture is available we will update you with more details.

Meanwhile, Fatu could not be reached for comment. Her phone is seemingly busy.

The post GAMBIA: FATU CAMARA FINDS A NEW MAN, SHE IS ENGAGED? appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

A Gambian land dealer Amadou Ceesay has denied encroaching into the land of one Joesph Gaye of Norway.  Ceesay, widely known as Orderly, made the denial in an interview with this medium. His denial followed accusation that he allegedly used the Station Officer of the Latriyaa police station to arrest Jobe’s masoner, who was working on the property.

Speaking to Freedom radio, Joe Gaye, has accused Ceesay of allegedly encroaching into his legally acquired Latriyaa 60×60 landed property. He added that Amadou Ceesay, emerged from nowhere and started claiming ownership of some portion his land.

According to Gaye, Ceesay has been using the police to harass and repossess people’s land, a charge denied by Amadou Ceesay. Ceesay said the allegations are false and unfounded. He maintained that he owned 30 meters of that disputed land.

Joe said he was shocked to learn that Mr. Ceesay had used S/O Barry to arrest his worker. His worker was detained and later released on bail. He wasn’t charged with any offence.

Joe said the person he entrusted is land was one Katim Saine, a police officer. Katim’s brother was the one arrested by S/O Barry. He added that Katim personally visited the Latriyaa police to protest the illegal arrest of his younger brother.

While at the Station, he said, the furious Katim Saine tore the statement that Barry had obtained from his brother. He said Katim was reprimanded by IGP Mamout Jobe. Katim was demoted from the rank of an Inspector to Sub-Inspector. Both Katim and IGP Jobe hailed from Ballangar.

Gaye has alleged Amadou Ceesay was allegedly being backed by the likes of IGP Mamout Jobe, S/O Barry, officer Omie Ceesay and co to escape from his alleged land grabbing.

Ceesay has denied the allegations. He said he has been merely his rights by reporting cases to the police.

According to Joseph Gaye, Amadou Ceesay, is highly connected at the police.  “He invited top officers of the police during the opening of his new house. The officer graced that occasion,” Gaye said.

Mr. Gaye has sued Amadou Ceesay to court over the disputed land. That case is yet to be decided.

Mr. Gaye has called on President Barrow to look into the activities of “corrupt” police officers. He said innocent Gambians are now becoming victims of police brutality and corruption.

“My case with Amadou Ceesay wasn’t a criminal case. It is civil matter. He went to the police lied against my masoner. The masoner was alone working on site. Amadou has been using the police to harass people. The police have no business in land dispute cases. Such cases should be handled by the courts,” Gaye further alleged.

“When I phone officer Barry, he couldn’t justify the arrest of my masoner. He has denied arresting him, he claimed that he invited him for questioning because he wanted to prevent the commissioning of crime. He talked about the issue of cutlass. I told him that my worker wasn’t armed and never involved in any confrontation with Ceesay,” he added.

Amadou Ceesay has rejected the accusations. He has in turn accused Joe Gaye of illegally occupying his land.

IGP Mamout Jobe couldn’t be reached for comment.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: LAND DEALER AMADOU CEESAY DENIES USING THE POLICE TO ENCROACH INTO THE LAND OF A NORWEGIAN GAMBIAN JOE GAYE! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

It is a national day of outrage today in The Gambia, as judicial staffers have decided to embark on a sit-down strike, Freedom Newspaper can authoritatively report. Court houses in Banjul and the Greater Banjul area would be affected by Gambia’s first judicial strike action. This followed failed negotiations between the judicial staffers and their bosses. Repeated attempts to convince them to cancel the strike action had failed.

Over 200 staffers of the judiciary have signed a petition that was sent to the Judicial Secretary, in which the staffers had demanded for pay raise and other allowances.  Drivers, Court Clerks, Assistant Registrars, Procurement Records, and IT Department, they are all part of the sit-down strike, a judicial insider told the Freedom Newspaper.

In a letter dated 17^th November 2020,  signed by Sheriff Trawally, on behalf of the Judicial Secretary, the letter captioned “REQUEST FOR ALLOWANCES” stated: “ I refer to your letter dated the 13^th November 2020, with reference to the above matter. Please be informed that the matter is being looked into and considered with utmost urgency.  The meantime, I would like to request for the full cooperation of all and particularly the general staff.”

The police, we have been reliably informed, had also tried to engage the disgruntled judicial workers for an amicable dialogue to persuade them not to go ahead with the strike action but without success. The judicial workers said nothing was going to stop them from exercising their constitutional guaranteed rights to peaceful sit down strike. They said have the right to embark on a sit-down strike.

According to sources, the disgruntled judicial workers are demanding for better working conditions, incentives, risk allowance, and pay raise. They want their salaries to be increased.

The judicial workers felt that it is unfair for the Barrow government to increase the salaries of the bench and exclude the workers, who are the main pillars of the judiciary.

The judges’ salaries have been increased to one hundred percent, one of them told this medium. The protesting staffers said they will not resume work unless their demands are met.

Written by Pa Nderry M’Bai

Email: panderrymbai@gmail.com

Tel: 919-749-6319

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: DISGRUNTLED GAMBIAN JUDICIAL STAFFERS DECLARED A DAY OF RAGE, AS THEY EMBARKED ON A SIT DOWN STRIKE; AS THEY DEMAND FOR SALARY INCREMENT, RISK ALLOWANCE, AMONG OTHER INCENTIVES! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The mafia in Banjul have once again done it. They have taken over the Barrow regime as they did with the Jammeh government. They are still in control. The Banjul mafia operates in secret. They work side by side with the Lebanese mafia. The Iranian mafia businessmen are also on the ground. 

The Gambia is a secret society. The secret society has captured the state and its relevant institutions. They are in the business of buying police chiefs, intelligence chiefs, and anti-narcotic chiefs just for the pursuance of their sheer economic ventures. They also pocket greedy Presidents.

Gambia, your nation has been sold! Prime lands have been allocated to  businessmen, dubious investors, the President’s friends, family members and supporters.

The land grabbing has now been extended to the Tourism Development Area (TDA).  The Gambia Tourism Board (GTB Board), which is under the auspices of the Tourism Ministry, has been acting in concert with the Lands Ministry to dispose our prime lands around the TDA area.

The sold areas worth millions of dollars. Corrupt officials are using their positions to sell our nation’s sandy beaches just for the sake of financial aggrandizement.

There is this company called Construct Gambia LTD, owned by Fara Shams, has been allocated the prime TDA land behind the British High Commission in Fajara.

Shams is said to be an Iranian.  He has close ties with the Lebanese mafia in Banjul.

Shams is also the owner of the TDA Fajara waterfront properties. The Fajara waterfront plots was allocated to him during dictator Jammeh’s rule. The houses that he built in that TDA area, housed Foreign Diplomats, Expatriate workers and rich folks. Those apartments are sold for nothing less than $200,000 dollars.

Shams is a quiet and reserved businessman.  He operates on the low key.

He was contracted by Jammeh’s government to build the Bakau Craft market. His company also built the Lebanese Emporium shop in Fajara.

Construct Company LTD has been in business since 1991. It was registered during Jawara’s rule.

Fara’s son Seena Shams, is handling his Dad’s business. Seena is a close buddy of Talib Bensouda, the son of Lawyer Amie Bensouda.

Talib was his school mate at Marina High. He dropped out from school and later traveled to Canada, where Talib studied. He used to hangout with Talib and Momar Tall in Canada. Check the picture below.

Talib is the poster kid of the Lebanese mafia. He is being groomed as a future Presidential candidate.

Meanwhile, GTBOARD sources have intimated that the land situated around the British High Commission has been allocated to Fara Shams. It is not clear how Fara secured the land, but sources said that land has been sold.

Construct Gambia LTD officials could not be reached for comment. Sources said Construct Gambia LTD is enjoying “unlimited access” to The Gambian government.

Tourism Minister Hamat Bah, Lands Minister Musa Drammeh and President Adama Barrow should explain to Gambians how the said prime land was allocated to Fara Shams. We are watching and monitoring the activities of the mafia.

Nothing has changed in The Gambia. It is the same old players running the state.

The post GAMBIA: THE BANJUL MAFIA HAVE STRIKE AGAIN: THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AREA (TDA) PRIME LAND LOCATED BEHIND THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION IN FAJARA, HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO BUSINESSMAN FARA SHAMS, OF CONSTRUCT GAMBIA LTD!! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The NPP newest supporter Businessman Sillaba Samateh, has recovered his seized assets, this medium can reveal. Sillaba’s assets were seized by the erstwhile Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh. This followed his legal wrangling with the state, which resulted to Samateh jumping bail and absconded to the Netherlands. Jammeh in response, decided to seize Samateh’s assets without court order.

Sillaba had a pending arrest warrant against him prior to the change of government in 2016. That never stopped him from returning home,  following the fall of Jammeh.

Sillahba Samateh was slammed with five count charges, including obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering and sedition back in 2014, the Standard Newspaper reported.

He was also charged with defaming the image of former President Yahya Jammeh.

“He is accused of receiving various sums of money amounting to D64,000 from Umar Ndow, Mohamed Ceesay Ikemefuna Izuchukwu under the false pretences that he had cocaine which was given to him by the president of The Gambia for sale in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The state further alleged that Mr Samateh, with intent to bring the name of the president into hatred, contempt and or disaffection uttered seditions words to various members of the public to wit: “The president of The Gambia called me to return from Holland to The Gambia to come and handle his cocaine business,.” said the charges.

“The allegations further revealed that Mr Samateh did receive €10,000 from Umar Ndow under the false pretence that he was going to use the money for the procurement of spare parts to carry out repairs on a military helicopter intended for use in the transportation of gold to Freetown, Sierra Leone in 2009.  It was also alleged that he transported money (euros) into Brusubi, Banjul and other places in the Gambia from Holland, the United Kingdom and other places in the World with the intent of concealing the illegal and or illicit origin and source of the money between 2008 and 2010,” the paper further reported.

Sillaba returned to The Gambia, following the change of government in December of 2016.  Sillaba’s assets have been returned to him.

Few weeks ago, he was accompanied by the police intervention unit officers (PIU) to evict one Manu Gomez from his Burusubi house. The two storey building is located at the Brusubi turntable. There is a mini market at the said property.

Mr. Gomez is claiming ownership of the landed property,  but Mr. Sillaba Samateh said the property belongs to him.

It has been gathered that Sillaba was able to convince the courts that the seized properties belong to him.  He has since recovered his assets.

Sillaba is a strong Barrow supporter. He has been extending help to the police by building them pavilions along the busy streets of KMC and the Greater Banjul Area.

Sillaba was contacted for comment via his Facebook messenger, but he wasn’t online to speak to us.

Below is an unedited message we received from a concerned Gambian. The author’s views do not represent the position of the Freedom Newspaper. Thanks for your kind attention.

………………………………………………………………

Yeah the scene happened in the evening, around 3 to 7pm, I closed from work and found it happening within our neighborhood. Although I didn’t take photos of the incidents because the ones involved were my neighbors and I had to intervened in calming down the situation down. But I can give you a hint of the story and The particulars whom were involved in the scene. It was SillahBa Samateh and one Manu Gomez the former Alkalo of Tranquil.

I will advise you to please send in your reporters to come and make their findings from both sides because this is a developing story and the family of the Alkalo aren’t in any form relenting in their efforts to get back their land. This is actually what happened.

During Jammeh’s time, SillahBa Samateh, was away in exile after he has an encounter with Jammeh. Jammeh seized some of his properties and included was a two leased storey building right at the BRUSUBI TURNTABLE where you have today’s mini market. He secured it from that Manu Gomez who actually happens to be owner of the land.

Upon SillahBa’s coming back after Jammeh left, he claimed ownership of the said two storey buildings and started his business after using the court’s to reclaimed it. Manu took it in good faith and decided to stay in his self contained inside the same compound with his family. SillahBa has been deeply involved in politics of recent following his pledge of supporting Barrow. Today upon closing from work , I came and found Paramilitaries occupying the whole streets and then driving this gentleman out of his compound with the declaration that it’s a court order. The paramilitaries men came forcefully inside the house forced the man and his family outside of their compound and locked up the compound which resulted in a bit of fracases in between the paramilitary men and some family members. Relatives and Some neighbors within the neighborhood had to accommodate the man and his family to sleep for the night.

This is what had happened and please if you can send in your reporters tomorrow please to come and ascertain this burning story please.

Thank you Fatou.
A concern Neighbor.

The post GAMBIA: NPP SUPPORTER SILLABA SAMATEH HAS RECOVERED HIS SEIZED ASSETS! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

MINISTRY OF FISHERIES AT IT AGAIN.

Dear Pa,
It could be recalled that few weeks ago, country’s fisheries Ministry was hit with a hard corruption scandal involving its permanent secretary, to an extent that he had to be put on administrative leave. During his interview with Malagen, the permanent secretary was presented with an audio evidence where he was overheard saying how the bribery money would be shared between himself and his boss (the minister).

However, both the permanent secretary and his boss refuted claims of accepting bribery and called it a propaganda. You could as well recalled the mysterious fire outbreak that almost put the entire Ministry complex into ravages, and the investigation report of a high calibre incident like such was thrown through the window.
Who is the minister working with that might render him untouchable? The most heartbreaking incident occured on Wednesday the 18th of November 2020.
The Gambia Navy on 29 October 2020 whilst on routine patrol arrested a Senegalese fishing vessel BETTY for fishing at the prohibited zone which is an offence. The Navy arrested the vessel and escorted her to Banjul port for further actions by the relevant authorities. The captain of the fishing trawler accepted to have committed an offence and this was confirmed by the fisheries observer onboard. The Navy team took some pictures of the arrested trawler at the time of arrest for evidence. Also the trawler’s log book showed that the vessel was fishing in the prohibited zone.

Initially the agent of the fishing trawler Mr Gabi Sosseh denied that the vessel has committed and an offence and opted to go to court. After a week the owner of the trawler in Senegal wrote to the Ministry of fisheries that he would want to settle the matter amicably instead of going to court.

A consultative committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of fisheries, ministry of defence, ministry of justice Gambia Maritime Administration and the Gambia Navy, met and agreed on imposing a fine of 5 million dalasi on the vessel BETTY for the offence committed.

Interestingly on the 17 of November 2020. The Minister of Fisheries and water resources James Gomez wrote and ordered for the immediate release of the fishing trawler Betty alleging that there was controversy on the arrest. The Navy guards were withdrawn from the vessel and the vessel left without paying a butut to the Gambia Government.

This happened after another Senegalese trawler FATIMA was arrested and released under the instructions of the Minister of Fisheries and water resources Mr James Gomez.
As events of such sinister actions and unpatriotic conducts continue to persist, i believe genuine and patriotic Gambians would want to if our Sea and maritime resources are as well sold to our big brothers just like the way our seat of presidency was sold to them. We are watching for as long as the sun rises in the East and set in the West, then no condition will forever remain permanent, and all those in the dark will surely come to light. We will regain our dignity in due time.

Concerned  citizen…

The post GAMBIA: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: MINISTRY OF FISHERIES AT IT AGAIN appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The perilous back way journey to Europe has resumed in The Gambia, as there is massive exodus of Gambian youths from the impoverished West African nation, Freedom Newspaper can reveal.  The Gambian youths are running away from economic hardship, and massive unemployment in the country, hence they ventured into such a deadly journey through the Mediterranean sea.

The smugglers are operating in The Gambia and Senegal. They charged their customers between $1,500 and $2,000 dollars to traffic them to Italy and Spain.

Some of the boats would drown, killing hundreds on sea, while very few of them would make it to Europe. Italian and Spanish navies would occasionally come to the rescue of the drowning boats.

According to reliable sources, some Gambian youths, who recently traveled through the back way, had made it safely it to Europe. The youths were trafficked by Gambian smugglers.

The human trafficking, halted following the change of government in December of 2016. Gambians were optimistic for what they called “brighter days under Barrow’s rule” But it appears that, that hoped has been dashed away.

The exportation of its unemployed youths to Europe through illegal migration, has resumed. Families have reported about their kids resettling to Europe the illegal migration.

The Barrow government has been criticized for not creating job opportunities for the country’s youths. The transition government that was expected to initiate meaningful governance reforms has collapsed with political agendas dominating its existence.

President Barrow has fired his Coalition colleagues and is running a government dominated by former Jammeh enablers. He has also formed his own political party called the National People’s Party (NPP).

Gambians are going to the polls in 2021 to elect a Post President. But in the meantime, there is mass exodus of its youths to Europe despite the Corona Virus pandemic.

The US government in its 2020 human trafficking report ranked The Gambia to tier2. The report notes that the Government of The Gambia is making significant efforts in this important area but does not yet fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

The US report also says despite the government’s efforts to fight human trafficking, The Gambian has been found wanting in bringing human traffickers to book

“Despite these achievements, the government did not convict a trafficker for the third consecutive year, victim services remained inadequate overall, and some law enforcement officers allegedly requested bribes to register trafficking complaints,” the report stated.

Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, said the report, a country can remain at Tier 2 Watch List for only two years and must address identified deficiencies to progress fully to Tier 2 within that time or be automatically downgraded to Tier 3.

“The annual rating cycle begins on April 1 and ends on March 31. We encourage the Gambian Government to expand on the good work undertaken over the past year and redouble efforts in the following critical areas: direct and fund law enforcement to investigate all reported trafficking cases, including those brought forward by civil society; investigate those accused of taking bribes to do their duty under the laws of The Gambia; increase efforts to vigorously investigate, prosecute, and convict traffickers, including allegations of child sex tourism; cease using extra-judicial or administrative remedies to resolve human trafficking cases; develop and train government officials on comprehensive standard procedures to proactively identify trafficking victims, including among people in commercial sex and other vulnerable groups,” said the report.

In December of 2019, over 60 Gambian migrants died when their boat capsized in Mauritanian waters. The remains of the migrants were buried in Mauritania. They were trafficked from the Coastal fishing town of Barra, in the North Bank Region of The Gambia.

The boat owner and co were charged. Their case has been dragging close a year.

The Barra boat accident case was first heard by the Essau magistrates’ court. It was later moved to the High court in Banjul.

Officials in Banjul could not be reached for comment at press time.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: THE “SECRET EXPORTATION” OF GAMBIAN YOUTHS THROUGH THE PERILOUS BACK WAY TO EUROPE RESUMES! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The MFDC rebel leader Salifu Sarjo leader has warned The Gambian government to refrain from being used as a proxy by the Senegalese government to start war in the Casamance region. Mr. Sarjo, who brags being a fighter and a warrior said he is not afraid to go to war with Senegal, including The Gambia. “I am a fighter. Senegalese leaders know me. They know that I am not the type who would run away from war. We have no business in Gambian politics. Your politics is your politics. Your government should refused to be used by Senegal to wage a war in Casamance. If the Senegalese forces in your country, should make the mistake to attack us, they will live to regret it. We want to see peace in The Gambia, but in a worst-case scenario, if we are attacked, we will fight back, if it means coming to The Gambia, we will do it. And no one knows the number of casualties, a war can bring,” the MFDC rebel leader remarked.

The Senegalese forces have been in the Foni region especially in Bwiam.  Sarjo says Senegal is occupying the said area just for the sake of terrorizing communities.

“Once again, I want to emphasize that I am a fighter. I have never signed any international law. I have also not signed any ECOWAS treaty. If they want to bring war, let them bring on, we are ready,” he added.

Speaking in the local Mandinka dialect, Salifu Sarjo, told a Gambian journalist crew that the lasting peace between The Gambia and Casamance should be jealously safeguarded. Sarjo has accused Senegal of showing seeds of tribal discord in The Gambia. He cited the removal of soldier Omar Sarjo from The Gambian army to back up his allegations.

“Gambians should not allowed to be divided. They are trying to use tribe to divide you. I was shocked to read a fake news from your country, that I am the father of this soldier published in one of your newspapers. I am not that soldier’s father. I do not have a son. They are out to divide you. Right here in Casamance, Jollas are being profiled and falsely accused as rebels. They are doing the same profiling in The Gambia, by referring to Jollas as non-Gambians. They are persecuting the soldier because he is a Jolla. I am not his father,” Sarjo remarked, while holding a Gambian newspaper that published the story of soldier Omar Sarjo.

Sarjo noted that given the proximity of the two countries, it is wrong for citizens of the two nations to be harassed because of citizenship. He says Senegal’s agenda is to cause instability in the southern province of Casamance.

“Sadly, you will not see the son of Macky Sall, the son of Abdoulie Wade, and the son of Abdou Joof, send to the frontline to fight in Casamance. They recruit poverty-stricken Senegalese to send them to Casamance jungle to be killed. They used the sons of the poor as sacrificial lamb,” the MFDC leader remarked.

Salifu Sarjo has also accused Senegal of not honoring past peace deal accords that were signed in Italy. He says Senegal was in the business of violating such peace treaties.

The post GAMBIA: THE GAMBIA SHOULD REFUSED TO BE USED AS A PROXY BY SENEGAL TO ATTACK CASAMANCE-MFDC REBEL LEADER WARNS BARROW GOVERNMENT; AS HE WARNS THAT IF CASAMANCE IS ATTACKED, THE GAMBIA WILL NOT BE SPARED! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The founding leader of the APRC party and former President Yahya Jammeh has reconciled with his former Interior Minister MA Bah, and his party supporters, who were expelled from the APRC, Freedom Newspaper can authoritatively report. Bah and his former APRC members were expelled from the party, following a dispute they had with the party’s leadership headed by Fabakary Tombong Jatta, Ousman Jatta, AKA Rambo and co. Jammeh at the time sided with the Fabakary’s Executive during that internal leadership dispute struggle. But it appears that Jammeh is out to reorganize his party and reconcile with the expelled members, who were branded as rebels within the former ruling party.

According to sources, who are familiar with the story, Jammeh has phoned the following former APRC members and reconciled with them: Ebrima Kitim Jarju, Nabou Saho, Sulayman Syngle Nyassi, Amie Jammeh, Boou Jarju, MA Bah, Lamin Ceesay of Brikama.

The APRC Congress is due in December. Reports have it that Jammeh has lost faith and confidence in the current APRC leadership. That the former Gambian leader is not happy with the party’s current Executive, especially they way that they are cozying up with Barrow’s NPP party.

Jammeh has been living in Equatorial Guinea since January of 2017. The APRC Executive has been calling for his home return to live as a private citizen. But so far, there has not been meaningful response from Barrow government to accommodate their leader’s home return.

All indications suggest that Jammeh is about to drop another New Year bombshell in the APRC. He has now convinced himself that the likes of MA Bah, Ebrima Kitim Jarju, Sulayman Shyngle Nyassi, and co are “genuine APRC supporters” who refused to sellout to the Barrow regime.

Some former members of the old APRC camp that Jammeh is trying to revive had joined the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP). It is not clear Jammeh is trying to bring them back to the APRC. Political observers say the APRC is likely going to divide as Fabakary’s team wouldn’t getting along with the former expelled members.

Meanwhile, in a Whatsapp audio, Malick Mbye, of the APRC said he was stunned upon hearing reports that Jammeh was in touch with the likes of his political nemesis MA Bah.

“I have never been shocked like this. I spent the whole night trying make sense out of what I heard. It reminds me the day when Jammeh lost the 2016 election. I cried that night. I joined politics because of Yahya Jammeh. If this is true, then I will chill and mind my business. I cannot get along with these enemies of the party. Has Yahya Jammeh not been listening to Freedom radio? Ebrima Kitim Jarju and his group have been on that radio spreading all  kind of stories about him. MA Bah was on Fatu Network picking on Jammeh. I have shared those videos on the forum,” Malick Mbye remarked.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: JAMMEH RECONCILES WITH THE EXPELLED APRC MEMBERS: MA BAH, EBRIMA KITIM JARJU SULAYMAN SHYNGLE NYASSI, BOOU JAJRU, NABOU SAHO AND CO appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Kafuta VDC TO BE DISSOLVED AFTER ALLEGED FINANCIAL EMBEZZLEMENT AND LACK OF AGM

The youths of Kafuta are preparing for a congress in order   to set up a new and vibrant VDC that will represent the whole village and will also manage the funds of the village.

According to the youths,  the current acting VDC who were handpicked by the former and the  Akalo  were  accused of serious financial mismanagement and lack of  Transparency and accountable like the previous VDC that  have been ruling Kafuta for 3 decades without any Annual General Meeting .

The former VDC members Nfamara Colley (Jallow Colley, Gibril Kujabi, Ousman (Faye) Bojang have made serious damages to the village coffer through the revenue which was generated from the Kafuta Community Forest.

The youths also revealed that more than D20 million dalasis was allegedly embezzled by the former VDC, which also contributed to the problems in the village.

Currently, the present VDC has registered the Kafuta mining Centre in their name as a private entity.

Meanwhile, tension has mounted between some concerned citizens and some of the VDC members.

When we approached the Alkalo of the village Kata Bojang about the formation of the VDC which doesn’t represent the 9 Kabilos of the village, said one of the concerned citizens.

The former VDC was here for 30 years without Annual General Meeting, without any financial report when the villagers forced them for a congress they clandestinely handpicked their family members to represent us as VDC, which is not in line with local government Act.

We send a petition to the Alkalo, but he said, he is the one who selected the VDC, we also send the petition to  Brikama Area Council, up to now nothing is coming out of it and if proper actions are not taken, there will be confrontation between  the villagers specially if they don’t hand over the documents of the mining center .

Kafuta is facing serious financial embezzlement by the various committees including Kiruna  sponsorship package from the Swedish philanthropists, stone mining Centre, Kafuta Community Forest.

Members of the current VDC

• Malang Jatta WORKPLACE (Security Sector reform office of the vice president)

2)  amin M Camara National Environment Agency  (EIA)

3) Abdouille F Bojang Teacher at Kafuta Senior Secondary School

4) Lamin Kaniko Bojang     unemployed

5) Gibril Kujabi, Teacher

6) Bakary Gibba Gamtours Tour Guide

7) Ebou Jarjue Accountant Gambia Radio and Television Service

8)bdouille Kujabi.

Malang Jatta Chairman Kafuta VDC TEL……

WRITTEN BY THE CONCERNED VILLAGERS OF KAFUTA.

Editors note: When contacted for comment, the Chairman of the Kafuta VDC Mr. Malang Jatta has denied the allegations.

“Mr. Mbai, these are just mere allegations. I think I will get back to you on the full story because it is the same group of people, who petitioned us to the Brikama Area Council. The ward committee and the VDC committee of are looking into their allegations, they are investigating the case.  So, I don’t know why they are jumping on going to the media, claiming that they are going take us to court, so it would be better to wait for the outcome of that,” Jatta remarked.

Jatta added that the allegations were not only false, but totally unfounded. He rejected the allegation that the VDC had allegedly embezzled D20 million dalasis of the village funds.

“They are on a media propaganda. The allegations are unfounded. It is completely false. They cannot substantiate it,” he said.

Mr. Jatta has also debunked accusations that his VDC had allegedly embezzled the funds that were accrued from the village’s sand mining project. He said his VDC has brought development in the village.

“Mr. Nderry, we are going to show you the developments that we done. You can even send someone, if you have anyone in The Gambia, to go verify those projects in the village, but as of it now, the case is under investigations. We do not want to preempt it. Let them go out and make their media propaganda, or whatever, but we are going to come back to you guys and clarify every false claim that they made,” he added.

When asked whether he has been questioned by the Brikama Area Council, Jatta responded in the affirmative.

“We were called by the Brikama Area Council, we also learned that they were also called by the Brikama Area Council,  this you could verify through the Chairman or the PRO of the Brikama Area Council, So, I don’t want to go into details of that,” he said.

The post GAMBIA: KAFUTA VDC TO BE DISSOLVED AFTER ALLEGED FINANCIAL EMBEZZLEMENT AND LACK OF AGM appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Former President Yahya Jammeh has started purging the APRC Executive. He has reportedly ordered the APRC Interim leader Fabakary Tombong Jatta to tell Dodou Jah, the Deputy Spokesman of the party to stop speaking on behalf of the APRC party. Jammeh’s decision was communicated to Mr. Jatta some weeks ago.

Jammeh isn’t happy about Jah’s recent media tours, in which he has been discussing the possibility forming an alliance with the existing opposition including Barrow’s National People’s Party (NPP).  Jammeh is opposed to the APRC forming an alliance with any of the political parties in The Gambia.

According to APRC insiders, Fabakary Tombong Jatta never conveyed Jammeh’s Order to the party’s Central Executive. He kept the information to himself, though reports suggest that he had briefed Dodou Jah.

Jah hasn’t been in the media view since Jammeh’s order banning him from speaking on behalf of the APRC. He was heard yesterday on Whatsapp, where he informed the APRC membership that he was asked by the party’s leadership in Banjul to reassure the party membership that the party was united and was committed to organizing a political rally ahead of its December Congress. The Jabang rally has been scheduled this weekend.

Jah in his address said Jammeh is “a private citizen” who is at liberty to speak to any person he (Jammeh) wanted to speak to.  He noted that Jammeh speaking to others doesn’t mean that the party is divided.

Jah’s statement followed claims made by the former expelled APRC members that Jammeh has reconciled with them. Ebrima Kitim Jarju told Freedom radio last night that they have spoken to Jammeh and their differences with Jammeh had been reconciled.

Jah has urged the APRC supporters to ignore the position seeking detractors. He said the APRC has no time for distractions and they do not have any problem with Jammeh speaking to other people.

When contacted for comment, this reporter began by saying: “Good day Mr Jah. Is it true that you have been banned by Jammeh to stop speaking on behalf of the APRC? Reports have it that Jammeh’s decision was communicated to your party Leader Fabakary Tombong Jatta. Can you please shed light on the veracity of such claims? Thanks.”

In response Mr. Jah said: “Greetings to you Mr. Mbai, it is not to my knowledge and no one has ever informed me about it.”

When further quizzed: “The report also went on to suggest that you have been quiet lately because of Jammeh’s order to ban you from speaking. Lol.”

Jah again in response stated: “Ha ha, my last interview was on Monday with City Limits Radio, it is recorded and I can forward it to your WhatsApp, on Sunday too I was at King FM Radio which is also recorded.”

Meanwhile, Ebrima Kitim Jarju, said Jah has indeed been banned by Jammeh not to speaking on behalf of the party. He added that both him and Sulayma Shyngle Nyassi have been challenging Fabakary Tombong Jatta on his alleged refusal to communicate Jammeh’s message to the party’s National Leadership.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: DODOU JAH DENIES BEING BANNED BY JAMMEH NOT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE APRC PARTY! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

A Gambian disable says he is a victim of state discrimination. He has accused The Gambian government of denying him access to the COVID-19 D15 million dalasis bailout funds. The funds were allocated to the media by the Barrow administration. Mamat Gai, a Gambian disable, widely known as Baye Njoll Gai, is the proprietor of the Wellingara based Fayda One FM. He made the allegations in an interview with Freedom Radio Gambia on Tuesday.

The Fayda One FM was set up in August of 2020. It operates on 90.9 FM. It  is Gambia’s premier privately owned disable radio station.

According to Gai, when he applied for the COVID-19 bailout funds, his application was never approved. He was told by the Committee overseeing the disbursement of the funds that the Gambia Public Regulatory Authority (PURA) has informed them that his station was not on air.

Gai disagrees. He said his station has been in operation since August of 2020. He also said there are other Gambian disables working with at his station.

Gai lives in the US State of Minnesota. He has entrusted his radio station to his fellow disables in The Gambia.

Gai said his station has met all the necessary requirements that would qualify it to be given COVID-19 bailout relief. “I am a victim of discrimination. I submitted all the necessary documents through The Gambia Press Union during my last trip to The Gambia. My application wasn’t considered,” he said.

Gai says he suffered a similar bureaucratic red tape when he applied to set up his radio station. It took him nine months before his radio application could be approved.

Also speaking to Freedom radio Gambia, was Lamin Manneh. Mr. Manneh works at Fayda One FM on voluntary basis. He also said Fayda One FM was denied access to the COVID-19 bailout funds.

“Gambian disables are often marginalized and discriminated in this country. We are not treated as human beings. If they can exclude us from the COVID funds, what would make them support the physically disable people in this country. Our plight is a sad one. We have been neglected by our own government,” he said.

Mr. Manneh is a former Civil Servant. He has accused Information Minister Ebrima Sillah of being unfriendly to the disables.

“When we visited him at his office to enquire about our pending radio license, Sillah refused to grant us audience inside the Information Ministry building. He walked to the gate to speak to us. He was very arrogant, rude, and unmeasured when he spoke to us. He felt too good to invite us into the building. Ebrima Sillah has really let us down. This is a guy, who claimed to be a journalist and an activist during Jammeh’s rule. Today, he is behaving as if he is better than us. He should bear in mind that disability could happen to anyone,” Mr. Manneh charged.

Manneh, a native of Sukuta, has called for Sillah’s sacking from the government.

“Ebrima Sillah should be fired. He has no use at that Ministry. He is there for his pocket and nothing else. He has been spewing a lot of lies on West Coast Radio to please President Barrow. I cannot stand this sycophant. He has no love for the disables,” Mr. Manneh further alleged.

Manneh did not spare Gambia’s Vice President Isatou Touray. Like Ebrima Sillah, Isatou Touray too is another corrupt official, he alleged.

“The Vice President also do not have love and empathy for the disables. She has denied us access to an EU and World Bank funds that are meant for the poor and the needy. I have seen people given D3,000 monthly allowance from those funds. I am a disable, and I couldn’t access the EU/World Bank relief funds,” he said.

Manneh disclosed that he and the VP used to be close buddies. But they later fallout because according to him, the VP, was trying to prevail on him to stop criticizing the Barrow government.

“She onetime telephoned me and asked me to stop picking on the government during my radio shows at Hot FM. I refused. I told her that no one can stop me from speaking truth to power. This woman is a disgrace. Here is a lady, who used to claim to be a human rights activist, a gender activist, she is no longer an activist. She is a turned coat. She was just using vulnerable Gambian women to line her pocket. She has no love for the disables,” he further alleged.

Mr. Manneh has thanked Mama Kandeh, the leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress Party for his unflinching support to The Gambian disable community. He says Kandeh had onetime donated The Gambian disables D100,000 dalasis.

He also says Mayoress Rohey Lowe, has been a kind supporter to the disable community. He added that the Banjul Mayoress is still supporting the disables.

Mr. Manneh has also accused the Barrow government of excluding the country’s disable community during the government COVID-19 food aid relief program. He said the disables never benefited from that food aid. His claims couldn’t be independently verified.

There are over 500,000 disables in The Gambia. Manneh has accused the Barrow administration of neglecting the disable community.

“They are just using our names for political and economic expediency. They have do programs to support the disables. In neighboring Senegal, and other countries in the sub-region, disables are financially supported by their governments. Not in The Gambia. I was so mad when our disables were used to participate in a march that was organized by Barrow’s five year rule supporters. I was out of town when the march happened,” he said.

Information Minister Ebrima Sillah could not be reached for comment. His line was off when contacted. There was no contact detail for the VP to reach her for comment.

The post GAMBIA: A GAMBIAN DISABLE OPERATING A PRIVATE RADIO STATION, HAS ACCUSED THE GAMBIAN GOV’T OF DENYING HIM ACCESS TO THE D15M COVID-19 BAILOUT RELIEF FUND! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Immigration officers in The Gambia are on the verge of deporting a 29 year old Gambian Swedish national Jamal Emile Jobe, even though his lawyers have filed an injunction for stay of deportation at the High Court in Banjul, Freedom Newspaper has been reliably informed. This followed an Interpol arrest warrant for Mr. Jobe. Jobe is said to be wanted in Sweden for murder and attempted murder. He is also accused of money laundering.

The Gambian police arrested him three weeks ago and has been lined up to be deported tonight to Sweden. Jamal Emile Jobe is currently held at the Banjul police station. He is to be deported at 11:00 PM tonight to Sweden.

Jamal is a Gambian philanthropist and a businessman. He has built a mosque in Brufut. He also owns a brick company in The Gambia.

Speaking to the Freedom Newspaper, Jamal’s fiancé Mariama Bojang said Jamal hasn’t committed any crime that should warrant his deportation. She has called on The Gambian police and the Immigration Department to follow the rule of law and stop undercutting the pending judicial process to stay Jamal’s deportation.

Ms. Bojang said Jamal has hired two lawyers Kebba Sanyang and Mene to help stay his deportation to Sweden.

“He shouldn’t be deported without the outcome of that case filed before the high court. As we speak, they are planning to deport him to Sweden tonight. The rule of law should be respected,” she said.

In another development, a source speaking to the Freedom Newspaper on condition of anonymity said Mr. Sebestian Jamal Emile Jobe, is wanted in Sweden on alleged multiple murder charges. Our source said Jobe’s alleged accomplices, some of whom Gambian nationals, have been held by the Swedish authorities.

“He is going to be deported tomorrow. He was arrested by The Gambian Interpol. He is wanted for multiple murders in Sweden. He is a half-cash,” said our source.

Mr. Jobe’s girlfriend said her boyfriend has been living in the country since January 2019. He also owns a fishing company in The Gambia.

Mr. Jobe was found with a Swedish passport when the police arrested him. He has no Gambian passport at the time of his arrest, our sources said.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: GAMBIA TO DEPORT SWEDISH GAMBIAN, ACCUSED OF MULTIPLE MURDERS IN SWEDEN! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The Gambian Swedish fugitive Sabestian Jamal Emile Jobe has finally been deported to Sweden, Freedom Newspaper can report. Jobe has been living in The Gambia for about a year prior to his deportation. He was on the radar of the Swedish police amid allegations that he was wanted for multiple murders. Jobe has been accused of murder, attempted murder, threatening violence and money laundering. He is the son of Abou Denton Jobe, a Banjulian native. His mum is a Swedish Caucasian.

Reports have it that Jobe’s three brothers have already been detained in Sweden on murder related charges. He was arrested in The Gambia, following an Interpol arrest warrant.

Jobe’s arrest came at a time, when he had already started settling down in The Gambia. He bought a multi-million house at the Dalaba Estate.

He registered a fishing company. He also had brick company.

While hiding in The Gambia, the 29 year old Sabestian Jamal Emile Jobe, was also  engaged into philanthropic ventures. He has built a mosque in Brufut, sponsored students, and created employment opportunities for the youths.

He has left his new Gambian girlfriend Mariama Bojang behind.

Little did Jobe knew that his arrest was imminent. The police Interpol in Banjul were alerted by their counterparts about the presence of the Swedish fugitive in Banjul.

A search was mounted on him and he was later arrested. Jobe has been detained for close to one month at the Banjul police station.

His Lawyers had failed a motion in court, asking the court to restraint the state from deporting him. That court action never saved him.

He was deported in the early hours of Friday. He was never given notice to leave the country voluntarily. He was just grabbed, placed under custody and deported.

Sweden and The Gambia have no extradition treaty.

Police say Jobe had overstayed in the country and that was a violation of the country’s Immigration policy. He was subsequently deported.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: GAMBIA DEPORTS SWEDISH FUGITIVE! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh was a widely feared leader during his decade long rule of the West African country, but it appears that he is losing grip of his APRC party. His party’s Deputy Spokesman Dodou Jah has made it unequivocally clear that Jammeh cannot expel him from the APRC party. Jah said the only person who can remove him from the APRC is the party’s Central Executive and not Jammeh per say. He also said Jammeh cannot stop him from speaking on behalf of the party. That power, he said, resides in the hands of the APRC interim leader Fabakary Tombong Jatta and his Executive.

Mr. Jah was speaking in an interview with Freedom Radio Gambia on Thursday. “The APRC constitution doesn’t give Jammeh the power or the authority to expel me from the party. Jammeh doesn’t have that power. The only person, who can expel me, from the party is our interim leader Fabakary Tombong Jatta and his Executive. An individual cannot just jump and order for my expulsion. Our constitution doesn’t allow that,” Jah remarked.

Jah’s statement followed claims made by the expelled members of the APRC: Ebrima Kitim Jarju and co, who said Jammeh had banned Jah from speaking on behalf of the party.

“That’s news to me. I am not aware of it. Per our Party’s constitution, Jammeh cannot ban me from speaking. I was brought to the Executive by our interim leader. If there should be any decision of that nature, it should come from Fabakary Tombong Jatta and not Jammeh. The APRC is a party that is ruled by a constitution. An individual cannot expel his fellow party member from the party. Such powers are vested to the Executive and the Interim leader,” he said in the local Wollof dialect.

Jah’s pronouncements had shaken the APRC with dozens of callers voicing their support and opposition to his statement. Jah maintains that Jammeh has no powers to reprimand or expel from the APRC.

Jammeh has been living in exile in Equatorial Guinea since 2017. He has ruled The Gambia from July of 1994 to December of 2016. He is the founding leader of the APRC party.

Jah has also clarified that Jammeh is not legally qualified to serve as the party’s flag bearer—given his absence from the West African country. He said in order to avoid the APRC from being banned by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the party decided not to take the risk to submit Jammeh’s name to the electoral Commission as a flag bearer.

Ebrima Kitim Jarju and his colleague Sulayman Shyngle Nyassi have accused Fabakary’s Executive of removing Jammeh’s name from the IEC register as the party’s flag bearer. Jarju and Nyassi said Jammeh was elected in the party’s last congress that was held in Kanilai, as the party’s flag bearer in the upcoming election. The APRC current leadership have dismissed the duos’ claims as false and unfounded.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: JAMMEH CANNOT EXPEL ME FROM THE APRC-DODOU JAH DECLARES! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The High Court in Banjul has granted a request to prevent the deportation of The Gambian Swedish fugitive Sebastian Emile Jamal Jobe. The ruling was delivered today by Justice S Wadda Cisse, Freedom Newspaper can report. But Jamal has already been deported to Sweden. He was placed on board a private jet and escorted to his native country Sweden, where he has been wanted on murder charges. Three Gambian Immigration Officers: Hatab Bojang and one GID officer with regimental number (GID7) flew with him to Sweden. We are yet to establish the name of the third GID officer. Hatab Bojang led the deportation team. Amadou Kujabi, a police officer was also on board the flight. There were Swedish officers on board the private jet as well.

To prevent his deportation, Jamal hired two lawyers: Kebba Sanyang, Gambia’s former Justice Minister and a Nigerian Lawyer Mene. He sued The Inspector General police, the Director General of Immigration, the Minister of Interior, and the Attorney General, and asked the High Court to restraint the heads of the institutions concerned from deporting him.

While his case was pending for hearing at the court, The Gambian authorities last night grabbed Jamal from police custody in Banjul and handed him to the Swedish police, who were at the airport with a private jet. There was no court order to justify what appeared to be “the kidnapping of Jamal from Banjul.”

Jamal’s father Abou Denton Jobe is a Gambian national. His mum is a Swedish Caucasian.

Immigration records showed that Jamal arrived in The Gambia on January 5^th, 2020. He was issued 28 days tourist visa.

Authorities in Banjul said he overstayed his welcome and as such he had broken the nation’s Immigration laws.

Just in time, a request for his arrest and deportation to Sweden was made by the Swedish authorities. A criminal complaint filed with Interpol, has accused Jamal of committing multiple murders, threatening violence and money laundering.

Swedish Interpol officers were already in Banjul to pursue him. They worked with their Gambian counterparts to effect the arrest of Jamal.

Jamal was held in police custody for close to one month before he was deported.

In delivering her ruling on Friday, which was witnessed by Jamal’s lawyer Mene, High Court judge Justice S Wadda Cisse said an interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the DIG of Immigration, the Interior Minister and their servants or agents from deporting Sebastian Emile Jamal Jobe. Justice Cisse further ruled that the previous deportation order that was issued on November 20^th, 2020 against Mr. Jobe shouldn’t be enforced “under any guise from deporting or repatriating Jamal from The Gambia to Sweden, a foreign state (with which The Gambia does not have an extradition arraignment) or any other foreign state in connection with alleged offences committed in Sweden, pending the hearing and determination of the summons on notice.”

Jamal’s case was subsequently adjourned to December 4^th.

The state was absent when today’s ruling was delivered. There was no representation from the state.

Jamal left his registered fishing business behind. He also owns a brick laying company.

Meanwhile, the Swedish press is reporting that Jamal was arrested at the airport in Sweden, as if he had returned to Sweden on his own volution, which wasn’t the case.

Jamal has been taken into custody by the Swedish police. His case won’t be heard until March of 2020.

The post GAMBIA: DO NOT DEPORT SEBASTIAN EMILE JAMAL JOBE TO SWEDEN-HIGH COURT RULES; GAMBIAN GOV’T DEFIES JUDICIAL PROCESS, AS STATE DEPORTS JAMAL BEFORE TODAY’S COURT ORDER! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.