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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 30 Nov 2017 : 11:40:02
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Ex-president’s accountant submits documents to Janneh Commission
The Point: Wednesday, November 29, 2017
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/ex-presidents-accountant-submits-documents-to-janneh-commission
Mrs. Adama Njie, former accountant at the office of the former president, yesterday submitted relevant documents to the Janneh Commission in relation to payments she made for per diems and air tickets.
According to her the payments she made were from 2011-2016 respectively from the Special Security Account at the Central Bank. She said in 2013 she made a payment of D69,639,778, further stating that in 2014 she made a payment of D81,413, 827.39 and in 2015 she made a disbursement of D28,186,270.80.
She further revealed that in 2016 she made another payment of D63, 897,285.90; adding that permanent secretary No.1 dealt with travelings with her immediate boss. She said PS1 used to give her invoices from the travel agencies for her to effect payments.
Documents relating to payments from 2011 to 2016 were tendered and admitted as exhibits. Mrs. Njie further adduced that some of the payments were made to the former president as per diem, ex-first lady and former vice president. She said the per diem per day for the former president was £350.00 while the former vice president and first lady received £300,00 each per day.
Responding from commissioners, she said she was instructed to make payments from the Special Security Account, further noting that she was never audited from 2011 to 2016 but currently, auditing is being carried out.
Next person to testify was Sheriff Sawneh, the proprietor of Competence Company Ltd. who was asked to furnish the commission with certain documents that were outstanding such as list of contracts, tax clearance from Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) and registrations with Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA).
Mr. Sawneh disclosed that he paid tax from 2012 to 2016 and there was a tax credit in favour of his company for over D3, 000,000. Documents provided by the witness relating to his company were also tendered and admitted as exhibits.
Mr. Yusupha Dibba, former permanent secretary, Ministry of Defence who was summoned in connection with the building of boats contracted to one Alhaji Jass Sam testified that the former president created a fishing unit in the navy and never consulted him. He added that the acquisition of boards was the former president’s show and he could not tell the former president and they did not have the discretion to tell whom he should give the boats.
Earlier Mr. Dibba testified that he retired in 2011 and was on contract till 2016.
Mr. Ousman Jatta alias ‘Rambo’ reappeared and informed the commission that he received three boats from General Barjie and three from Commodore Madani Senghore. He said some of the boats were leaking and were not catching fish. However, Counsel Bensouda puts to him that under the laws of the Gambia, income generation enterprises are expected to pay taxes and also register as well but Jatta said he did not pay taxes neither did he registered with the fisheries department.
Mr. Jatta disclosed that he did not have an account of the fishing boats at the bank, however, he had accounts in different exercise books and on the 20th of January, 2017, his driver absconded with his double cabin pickup where he had some of the receipts and log book; adding that even under the former regime, he was expecting to account for the expenses of the boats.
Hearing continues today.
Author: Dawda Faye |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2017 : 13:44:55
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Captain Ebou Jallow transferred $3,000,000 to a private bank Says former Central Bank Official
The Point: Thursday, November 30, 2017
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/captain-ebou-jallow-transferred-3000000-to-a-private-bank-says-former-central-bank-official
Mr. Abdoulie Cham, retired Financial Controller at the Central Bank of The Gambia, yesterday told the Janneh Commission that Captain Ebou Jallow transferred $3,000,000 to a private bank.
The former banker testified that he worked at the Central Bank from March 1997 to November 2003 and among his responsibilities was to ensure that the books of the bank were kept adequately enough.
According to him the office of the former president had dealings with CBG, further stating that there was a coup d’état on 22nd July 1994 and the immediate reaction of the International Community was to impose sanction on the former government.
The governor of the bank was approached by the AFPRC Council and the Bank decided to accept a loan facility amounting to $35,000,000 which was coming from the Republic of China and Taiwan which was to be paid after a grace period of five years. He said two accounts were opened at City Bank in New York, and there were two signatories, namely Captain Edward Singhateh as he then was and Captain Ebou Jallow.
According to him, Captain Singhateh withdrew his signature while Captain Jallow maintained, however, he said the bank received $30,000,000 and in addition, Captain Ebou Jallow and Captain Singhateh deposited $2,000,000 and an additional sum of $220,000.
He added that the late Baba Jobe introduced to them a businessman who imported rice into the country in order for him to be paid and the bank disbursed his payments through a foreign account. He said bags of rice were distributed to the AFPRC militants who were supposed to deposit proceeds amounting to D200, 000,000 but this was never received.
Mr. Cham informed the commission that then governor of the Bank, Nfamara Jatta, himself and the attorney general travelled to Geneva, Switzerland to recover the $3,000,000 that was transferred by Captain Ebou Jallow.
He stated that it is from the proceeds of the loan ($35,000,000), the Daily Observer was purchased from Keneth Betts to the tune of $268,000; adding that Arch 22 was also built from the same funds to the tune of $1,000,000 and as well as the Airport. He said Baba Jobe went with invoices on instructions from the former president whom he said was used by the former president.
Mr. Cham further revealed that the governor of the bank allowed for an overdraft on the account by the office of the former president and there was a letter from the former president indicating that they were expecting $30,000,000 from Colonel Ghadafi necessitating, the former Finance Minister, Nfamara Jatta, Dodou Bambi Jagne, Alieu Ngom and Baba Jobe were sent to Libiya to finalised the receive of the $30,000,000 but it never came.
The witness disclosed that the overdraft on the account was $28,500,000 and the former governor owned up their liabilities. He said in early February, 2003, the government made an arrangement to settle their liabilities at the bank.
Mr. Cham revealed that CBG paid over $10,000,000 to Muhammed Bazzi for the refurbishment and expansion of transmission within the Greater Banjul area, while another payment of $1,500,000 was paid to Sight Gambia Investments signed by Baba Jobe.
On the 19th December, 2001, the sum of $75,000 was paid to Baba Jobe while on the 2nd November, 2001, there was a telegraphic $500,000 to Genus Import and Export Services and on the same date T.K. Motors was paid $600,000.
He stated that on 24th of August, 2001, the sum of $800,000 was paid to EAW Group on instructions of the former president, noting that $2,000,000 was paid to West Coast Property Holdings and signed by Baba Jobe on the instructions of the former President. Mr. Jobe received two personal cheques of the former president from the Republic of China amounting to $2,000,000.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2017 : 22:17:45
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Former CBG Financial Controller Explains How Funds Were Looted
EditorNovember 30, 2017
By: Mamadou Dem
http://www.foroyaa.gm/archives/19487
Mr. Abdoulie Cham, retired Financial Controller at the Central Bank of The Gambia, yesterday explained to the ‘Janneh’ Commission, the way and manner monies were taken from the bank including a transfer of $3,000,000.00 by Captain Ebou Jallow, to a private bank. The former Banker testified that he worked at the Central Bank from March 1997 to November 2003 and among his responsibilities was to ensure that the books of the bank were kept adequately enough.
According to him, the office of the former president had dealings with the CBG, further stating that there was a Coup D’état on 22nd July 1994 and the immediate reaction of the International Community was to impose sanctions on the former government.
Cham said the governor of the bank was approached by the AFPRC Council and the Bank decided to accept a loan facility amounting to $35,000,000.00 which was coming from the Republic of China on Taiwan, which was to be paid after a grace period of five years; that the two accounts were opened at City Bank in New York, and there were two signatories, in the name of Captains Edward Singhatey and Ebou Jallow respectively.
According to him, Captain Singhateh withdrew his signature while Captain Jallow maintained his; that the bank however received $30,000,000 and in addition, Captain Ebou Jallow and Singhateh deposited $2,000,000 and an additional sum of $220,000; that the late Baba Jobe introduced to them a businessman, who imported rice into the country in order for him to be paid and the bank disbursed his payments amounting to $835,000,000 through a foreign account. He said bags of rice were distributed to the AFPRC Militants who were supposed to deposit proceeds amounting to D200, 000,000 but this was never received.
Mr. Cham informed the Commission that then Governor of the Bank, Nfamara Jatta, himself, and the Attorney General travelled to Geneva in Switzerland, to recover the $3,000,000 that was transferred by Captain Ebou Jallow; that it is from the proceeds of the loan of $35,000,000 that the Daily Observer was purchased from Keneth Betts, to the tune of $268,000; that Arch 22 was also built from the same funds to the tune of $1,000,000 and as well as the Airport. He said Baba Jobe went with invoices on instructions from the former president whom he said was used by the former president.
Mr. Cham further revealed that the Governor of the bank allowed for an overdraft on the account by the office of the former president and there was a letter from the former president indicating that they were expecting $30,000,000 from Colonel Ghadafi, necessitating the former Finance Minister Nfamara Jatta, Dodou Bami Jagne, Alieu Ngom and Baba Jobe, were sent to Libya to finalise the loan amount of $30,000,000; but that this never came.
The witness disclosed that the overdraft on the account was $28,500,000 and the former Governor owned up their liabilities. He said in Early February 2003, the former government made an arrangement to settle their liabilities at the Bank. Mr. Cham revealed that CBG paid over $10,000,000 to Muhammed Bazzi, for the refurbishment and expansion of transmission within the Greater Banjul Area while another payment of $1,500,000 was paid to Sight Gambia Investments, signed by Baba Jobe.
On the 19th December 2001, the sum of $75,000 was paid to Baba Jobe while on the 2nd November 2001, there was a telegraphic transfer of $500,000 to Genus Import and Export Services; on the same date T.K Motors was paid $600,000. He stated that on the 24th of August, 2001, the sum of $800,000 was paid to EAW Group on instructions of the former president noting that $2,000,000 was paid to Wes Coast Property Holdings and signed by Baba Jobe on the instructions of the former President; that Mr. Jobe received two personal cheques of the former president from the Republic of China, amounting to $2,000,000.
Transactions documents in respect of City bank accounts ranging from 2000 to 2001, summary of transactions, certificate of incumbency by the former president, withdrawal by Jammeh from no account at the Central bank and related documents including a letter from the then Secretary General confirming Baba Jobe’s signature on one of the accounts and documents relating to the building of Yundum Barracks, were admitted as exhibits.
The former accountant in his reply letter to the Managing Director of IMF, regarding the financial situation at the bankers’ bank, Cham stated among other things that there was no misuse of public funds but acknowledged that the reason (s) for financial bridging was that they expected funds from a bilateral donor, Ghadafi in particular.
It was further observed that there were no social program transactions as claimed by the former president but there were transactions relating to Agriculture and that Cills benefited to a tune of $3,000,000; that funds that were spent were not captured in their financial records because the government failed to take responsibility but they were later captured and entered as suspension after government conceded.
The witness adduced that everyone knew how the former government was and after they took over, they summoned the governor of the bank saying that they did not inherit this or that and also explained that they had development projects. He said the state of affairs then was clear and the constitution was suspended. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 04 Dec 2017 : 12:34:47
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Amadou Samba paid over D9M tax
The Point: Monday, December 04, 2017
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/amadou-samba-paid-over-d9m-tax
Amadou Samba has told the Janneh Commission, on the 30th November, 2017, that he had 10% share at Gam Petroleum Ltd., which he sold and paid D9.3 million as tax.
Mr. Samba stated that he was part of the creation of the company, and that they had suppliers for two weeks for the country. He testified that he conceived the idea with Mr. Bazzi, further disclosing that he helped to secure a land at Mandinaring.
Mr. Samba said: “I was part of the people to negotiate for the area and I also did the fencing and the concrete. I provided almost all the facilities and I hired a crate until the end of the construction.”
He also informed the commission that he had sold Daily Observer to Baba Jobe. He was asked whether he was aware that Daily Observer was under receivership but he said that he was not aware.
Mr. Samaba also said he did not know whether the money that Baba Jobe used to buy the Daily Observer was from the Central Bank.
He also made known to the Janneh Commission that he had paid a personal tax over D9.3 million. Gampetrol
He posited that he was sued at the High Court by Edward Gomez, but he told the court that he was not the proprietor of the company. Mr. Samba adduced that one Aben Thomas approached him and told him that Keneth Best wanted to sell the company to the tune of $268,000, and he told him that he was interested. He said that Mr. Thomas introduced him to Mr. Best, who transferred the company to him.
He testified further that Baba Jobe told him that he was interested in the company, and that he would transfer the company to him, further stating that on the 7th May, 1999, Mr. Best and his wife transferred the company to him. He said that he then transferred the company to Baba Jobe on the 21st October, 2002, adding that Baba Jobe paid $268,000 for the purchase of the company.
Mr. Samba stated that although no consideration was stated on the document to transfer the company to Baba Jobe, but it had been met, further disclosing that he was not sure whether tax was paid. He went on to say that it was not his duty to pay capital gain tax, but said it must have been an oversight.
He was asked whether Baba Jobe had paid the $268,000 to Mr. Best for the purchase of the company, but he said that he would not know. He posited that the management was the same until Baba Jobe took over, and that Buba Baldeh was then the managing director.
Mr. Samba revealed that he suffered a lot when people said that he was the proprietor of the company after he sold it to Baba Jobe. He adduced that he told Baba Jobe to take the proprietorship of the company.
At this juncture, documents relating to the sale and transfer of the company were tendered and admitted.
“The negotiation between me and Keneth Best was finalised, and I do not know whether the $268,000 came from the Central Bank,” he told the commission.
Earlier, he was reminded that he was told to produce a copy of the agreement between Excel Construction and the former government, and he said that he had brought some documents like the memorandum and article of association of the company and the agreement between the company and the former government.
Mr. Samba went on: “Excel Construction only had a contract with the former government to construct the fence of the State House.”
The said documents were tendered and admitted as exhibits.
He further disclosed that he was not sure whether the company was registered with GPPA, further stating that he was not either sure whether there were payments to the company. He said that one Omar Touray was supervising the work and Kawsu Keita was the consultant appointed by the former president.
“The company was exempted from paying tax, and we negotiated it. The reason for the tax exemption was because of the cost of the contract,” he said. He added that he was not in charge of the day to day running of the company.
Author: Dawda Faye |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2017 : 12:43:15
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Business Mogul Deny Ownership of Newspaper Company
Foroyaa: December 4, 2017
By Yankuba Jallow
http://www.foroyaa.gm/archives/19510
“I have never been a proprietor of the Daily Observer Newspaper” Amadou samba told the Janneh Commission on Thursday 30th November 2017.
“This has been an error from the beginning. I have been complaining to the various managing directors of the ‘Daily Observer’ for the fact I was put as the proprietor, whilst I am not. Anytime I approached any Managing Director about the issue, they only give me excuses that it’s the printing and it was difficult for them to remove my name on the paper”, Mr. Samba said. He said he was once sued to Court by Lawyer Edward A. Gomez, but he produced documents in court that he was not the proprietor of the Company. “I succeeded only during the time of Momodou Sabally as the Managing Director, who removed my name on the ‘Daily Observer’ Newspaper”, he said; that 20 years ago, he was approached by the late Abel Thomas, former Manager of BICI who told him that one of his friends, Kenneth Best, was out of the jurisdiction and has entrusted him to sell the Company; that Mr. Thomas asked whether he (Mr. Samba) was interested in buying the Company to which he agreed. “We negotiated the price until we agreed at 268 thousand dollars and that was how I bought it” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Samba told the Commission that Mr. Baba Jobe heard about the transaction and approached him and expressed interest in buying the Company; that his agreement with Mr. Jobe was for him to pay the 268 thousand dollars to Mr. Best and he, Mr. Samba, will transfer the Company to him as soon as all due processes are met; that after the transactions were made with the Best Family, he approached Mr. Jobe on several occasions to finalise the transaction, but this was never successful until Buba Baldeh’s tenure, who made efforts that Mr. Jobe finalise the deal and the Company was transferred to him.
The documents of the transfer of Daily Observer to Mr. Jobe and the memorandum and article of association of the Company were all tendered and admitted as exhibits. Mr. Samba said the transfer of the Company from the three shareholders to Mr. Jobe, was done on the 7th of May, 1999. He however said the date of the memorandum and article of association was done on the 22nd of October 2002, and was witnessed by Buba Baldeh; that the documents were prepared by Mr. Jobe and Buba Baldeh and was brought to him to sign but was not sure whether tax was paid. “I transferred my 100% share of the Company to Baba Jobe” he said.
Counsel Bensouda said in the transfer of shares, sellers pay capital gains tax. She probed whether Mr. Samba has paid the capital gain tax when transferring to Mr. Jobe, in his response, Mr. Samba said it was an oversight. He said he had no idea of the transfer from Mr. Baba Jobe to Keneth Best whether it was from the Central Bank fund, as stated by the documents (evidence before the Commission) or not.
He said his name came on the Observer Newspaper at a time when it was published on the Observer Newspaper that he bought the Company from the Kenneth Family, adding that his name kept on appearing on the newspaper which he protested against since that time and only succeeded removing his name when Mr. Momodou Sabally became the Managing Director of the Observer Company.
“They kept on making the mistake, I made a lot of protests and they used to tell me some technical reasons that they cannot remove it” he said.
The copies of transfer between Keneth Best and Mr. Amadou Samba dated 7th May 1999 and two other transfers dated the same date between Mr. Amadou Samba and Baba K. Jobe, as well as the letter of lawyer Edward A. Gomez dated 26th April 2004, and the reply of Mr. Samba’s lawyer dated 3rd May 2004, were all tendered and admitted as exhibits.
On the issue of Excel Company, Mr. Samba said the fencing of State House was the only contract the Company carried out for the Government; that he is not too sure whether the Company was registered with the Gambia Public Procurement Authority, GPPA, and promised to find out. Counsel Bensouda asked whether there was a cash payment on the contract of the Construction of the State House fence, to which he said he will find out; that the negotiation for the construction of the fence was not done by him but one John Paul Flaw´, and promised to find out from him. He said Mr. Noah Touray was the Supervisor for the Office of the former President and the Consultant who was appointed, was Mr. Kawsu Keita; that in the contract document, there was a clause that exempts the Company from tax payment. He tendered the original copy of the memorandum and article of association of Excel Construction Company as well as the agreement between the former Government and Excel Construction Company Limited. He reminded the Commissioners that he had tendered the Business Certificate, Certificate of Business Registration and Certificate of Incorporation.
Mr. Samba concord with Counsel Bensouda, that he has shares in Gam Petroleum Company Limited; that he was part of the creation of Gam Petroleum and that the petroleum depot at Half Die, had a capacity to supply the country for two weeks; that as a concerned citizen, he decided to come up with a solution to this problem.
“I conceived the idea together with Muhamed Bazi, when the financing was offered by Total International. We started working on the location of the depot. In fact, I helped in securing the Land at Mandinary village. I helped in preparing the land because it is in a swampy area. I was part of the people who negotiated with Government to get documents and I was involved in the civil works and the construction. I built the fence because I used my Company to build the fence. I am the one who mobilised in terms of providing equipment. I provided nearly all equipment on the site and this involved moving my 80 tonnes mobile crane to facilitate the moving of heavy objects. The cost of hire of the crane was 12,000 dalasi per hour and the crane was stationed there till the end of the construction. Apart from that I supplied the cement. When I was allocated a 10% share, I did not feel happy about it because it does not commensurate in terms of what I have provided in material and other logistics”, he said.
He said he could not remember the year the Company was formed but he was quick to say that the documents should prove this; Samba added that Mr. Bazzi owns 99% share while he owns a token of 1% share in the storage facility and was the Chairman of the company since inception until he sold his 10% share to the former Government, at the tune of 35,000,000.00 Euros, out of which he paid 9.3 million dalasi as tax.
“I was appointed Chairman of the Board of Gam Petroleum since inception until I sold my shares”, he said. He said the shareholders of Gam Petroleum are Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation who held 31%, Gambia Ports Authority 10%, Gambia National Petroleum Company Limited 7%, Amadou Samba 10%, Muhamed Bazzi 31% and Fadi Mazegi 10.5%.
The Memorandum of Association of Gam Petroleum Storage Facility Company Limited, Certificate of Incorporation dated 10th July 2003, copies of application of Business Registration, amended Memorandum and Article of Association, a copy of a Cheque in the sum of over 9 million dalasi issued to Gambia Revenue Authority and a receipt issued by Gambia Revenue Authority to the Witness in respect of Capital Gains Tax, together with all other relevant documents relating to Gam Petroleum, were all tendered and marked as exhibits.
Commission resumes hearing today at 10am.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2017 : 14:19:26
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‘I was not involved in the sale of Gamveg Oil Company’
The Point: Tuesday, December 05, 2017
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/i-was-not-involved-in-the-sale-of-gamveg-oil-company
Fadi Mazegi, managing director of Euro Africa Group, and director of Gamveg Oil Company, yesterday told the Janneh Commission that he was not involved in the sale of Gamveg Oil Company Ltd.
Mr. Mazegi made this revelation when he reappeared before the said commission to explain about a letter of credit for the sum of €826,310 in favour of one Nucci Danniele and Co.
His attorney, Victoria Andrews, appeared on his behalf. Commission’s counsel, Mrs. Amie Bensouda, put it to him that he was the MD for Gamveg Oil Company Ltd., but he responded in the negative and added that he was the director.
On why he became signatory to the account, he informed the commission that it was because Mr. Bazzi was not available; adding that he was not involved in the sales of GamvegOil Company, as discussions of the sale was directly with Muhammed Bazzi.
According to him, the Ministry of Finance at the time promised to give protection to GamvegOil Company, and he knew that the sale of the company to the then government did not go through. Further responding to counsel, he said he was aware that the $700,000 being public funds was never refunded to the former government by Gamveg.
Mr. Mazegi, who was also summoned in relation to a letter of credit to Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh Foundation account, to the tune of €826,310 to which Euro Africa took responsibility of the said amount. He said he received a phone call from Mr. Bazzi, telling him that the former president had instructed them to write a comfort letter to Trust Bank Gambia Ltd. However, the witness said they never did so because the money was not meant for Euro Africa Group, and Trust Bank was reluctant to open a letter of credit.
At that juncture, counsel put it to him that he was paying some money into the account but the witness said they did not contribute to the transaction of the account. The business magnet further explained that the animal feeds which were imported from a company in Italy were meant for the cattle belonging to the former president.
Mrs. Bensouda asked the witness whether he was concerned as managing director of Euro Africa Group that public funds were diverted to a charitable organisation; he responded that Mr. Bazzi told him that he would discuss with the former president and that he was comfortable.
Documents in relations to the said amount were tendered and admitted as exhibits, as well as correspondences between GamvegOil Company, GT Bank and ex-president in relation to the sale of Gamveg to the former government. The witness was further shown documents in relation to some transactions on the account which he confirmed to the commission.
According to him, the $612,000 paid to Global Trading Company was for the purchase of ten vehicles for the AU Summit and that the contract was through negotiation, and he was part of the transaction and they were dealing with the Ministry of Finance. He added that it was Global Trading that supplied the cars and would do the transactions while Euro Africa Group would receive the money on behalf of Global Trading.
It was put to him that hence Euro Africa Group received payments on behalf of Global Trading, then they were expected to pay taxes for every transaction but the witness said their company is tax compliant. However, Magezi could not remember how much was paid for the rental of forty vehicles used for the AU Summit.
Some list of documents that were supposed to be provided by the witness were not availed to the commission. However, Magezi’s attorney said they have written to the secretariat, informing the commission some of the challenges they are facing in retrieving some of the documents, including accounting software for both Euro Africa Group and Gam Petroleum respectively. However, they promised to furnish the commission with documents requested.
Documents relating to contracts that were awarded to different companies in relation to NAWEC’s works were admitted as exhibits.
Next to testify was former secretary general, Lamin Nyabally, who testified that he was deputy ambassador and Charge De Affair at the Gambian Embassy in South Africa but was recalled in March, 2017 but finally came back on the 4th of November, 2017.
Mr. Nyabally was summoned in connection to payments made from the GNPC accounts which he confirmed to be a signatory. He said the former president approved certain transactions, and payments like scholarship and construction at state house were made.
According to him, the former president did not take over the account when he was secretary general. At that point, a document was given to him in relation to Gai Enterprise Construction but he said he had never seen the contract, further stating that he was instructed by the former president to effect payments. He added that the storey building at state house was for offices as well as a bus park but he did not know the cost of the contract.
When asked whether he ever visited the site where the construction of the building was being done, he responded in the negative. Payments of D10, 000,000 to Gai Constructions from GNPC Access and Skye Bank accounts was in relation to the same contract.
On the payment of €80,000 paid to Studio Tech in Belgium, was for the provision of broadcasting materials for GRTS, approved by the former president and the payment of over € 120,000 was meant for State Aircraft which was paid to GIA from the same account. There was another payment amounting to 1,320,000 CFA authorised by the witness and Sulayman Samba to one Sheikh Tijan Njie in relation to MV Bintang Bolong Vessel.
He said the environment was such that you cannot question the former president for signing directives. The president would only direct them to make payments from any account he wished, and if he instructed them, they dare not to challenge his instructions or directives which he said might lead to consequences.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2017 : 14:20:57
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Premier Agro Oil Company defaulted to pay loan: Finance PS
The Point: Wednesday, December 06, 2017
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/premier-agro-oil-company-defaulted-to-pay-loan-finance-ps
Mr. Abdoulie Jallow, permanent secretary, Ministry Of Finance, yesterday told the Janneh Commission that Premier Agro Oil Company situated at Denton Bridge, failed to pay a loan owed to Standard Chartered Bank.
Mr. Jallow made this revelation when he reappeared before the said commission to explain about the sale of Premier Agro Oil Company Ltd. He said the company was involved in the processing of groundnut oil which was exported overseas.
According to him, in 2005, the company took a loan from Standard Chartered Bank and they defaulted. He further stated that the bank took over the assets of the company. He testified that the chief executive officer of the bank engaged the Ministry of Finance for the sale of the assets to the tune of D20, 000,000.
He said prior to the sales of the assets, the Ministry of Finance engaged GGC, now called National Food Processing and Marketing Company (NFPMC), to provide them with a brief report to help the ministry in the negotiation process; adding that the report was prepared on the 13 June, 2006. However, they could not trace the directive from the former president and they engaged the Ministry of Justice and the bank to find out the sale agreement of the company but they could not.
However, the commission’s Counsel Amie Bensouda asked him to make further efforts to trace the said agreement. Mr. Jallow testified that the original owners of the company were Indians and the Ministry of Finance noticed that all the exporters of groundnut were not operating and this was why the former government deemed it prudent to buy the company to add value, and that the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and GGC was a grant.
The witness further explained that it was agreed that the plant should be rehabilitated before it was bought by the former government, and that the company was not registered under the single window business registration and the D20, 000,000 used was not from the budget and the Ministry of Finance paid the money.
At that juncture, correspondences between the Ministry of Finance, the company, the bank and the office of the former president were tendered and admitted as exhibits.
Earlier, Mr. Lamin Nyabally, former secretary general, who appeared for the second time in relation to payments made from the GNPC accounts, was asked to identify some transaction documents which were shown to him by Mrs. Bensouda’s assistant, Counsel Anna Njie, to which he said were in relation to fishing nets and engines.
Mr. Nyabally was again shown other transactions to identify and he said they were for the purchase of dental chairs for Fajara Barrcks dental clinic and this was a directive from the former president. He added that there was a scholarship scheme and the former president would authorize to award the scholarship and they would effect payments.
According to him, they used to receive applications from individuals and they would forward them to the former president who would approve them to award scholarships; adding that he was not aware whether the applications passed through the Ministry of Education. He said they had little idea how awards were made by the former president, and it was not an easy situation when scholarships were being awarded. He confirmed that he signed some documents in relation to fishing nets and scholarships respectively.
At that point, Ms. Njie applied for supporting documents on fishing nets, boats and scholarship payments to be admitted as exhibits.
Next to testify was former Secretary General Njogu Bah, who was summoned in relation to Kanilai International Festival and Tribute to Michael Jackson Account. Counsel put it to him that approximately the sum of D11, 000,000, being public funds, was deposited into this account.
During his testimony, Mr. Bah said he could not recall that an account was opened at Eco Bank bearing the same name. However, he disclosed that the former president was introduced to Jamen Jackson by one Mbacke Thioun.
He said Mr. Jackson wanted to organise a tribute for his late brother and the former president opted to host the event and when the event was approaching, an account was opened at Trust Bank for the event.
The former secretary general testified that the former president was acquainted with celebrities and that he was going to fund the event, further noting that funds never came from Jammeh but from Trust Bank. The former president was the leader and had decided that he would host the event, and that there was an excitement because the event would attract tourists. The minister of finance had to go and find the funds to host the event.
Mr. Bah informed the commissioners that he would not know where the former president was going to get money to fund the event; adding that he was not aware whether there was any point in time that the Jackson family financed the event. He said there was an organising committee comprising Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie, Fatou Lamin Faye and others whom he said were tasked to make sure that the event was successful and the former president would then approve for the event to be hosted.
At this juncture, he was shown some transactions and told that he and the former president were signatories, which he confirmed. With regard to the chartered flight for Jamen Jackson, the sum of D2, 856,522 was spent while the sum of D650,000 was also paid to one Babucarr Bah for foreign exchange in relation to the event. There was another disbursement of D2, 450,731 paid to Trust Bank and as well as D620,000 to the same bank for Babucarr Bah, who was providing Trust Bank with foreign currency.
Commission’s counsel further told the witness that the sum of D1,510,000 was paid to Babucarr Jobarteh, head of protocol, and as well as D3,000,000 paid to Amadou Samba which the witness assumed was in relation to fireworks. He added that it was correct as stated by counsel that there were payments made to hotels for accommodating celebrities from United States of America.
On the National Security Project Account, it was put to him that he and the former president were signatories, which he confirmed. He said that the purpose of the account was for projects relating to issues of national security, further stating that $2,100, 000 was paid into the account and was from the Republic of China; adding that he was asked to open the account by the former the president.
Author: Dawda Faye |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 07 Dec 2017 : 14:16:06
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Former Bar Association president testifies before Janneh Commission
The Point: Thursday, December 07, 2017
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/former-bar-association-president-testifies-before-janneh-commission
Lawyer Loubna Farage, a private legal practitioner and one time president of The Gambia Bar Association was summoned by the Janneh Commission yesterday in her capacity as the secretary of Gam Petroleum Storage Facility.
She was summoned to shed light on Gam Petroleum Storage Facility as well as the company itself.
Testifying before the commission, she said she never had the original copies of the company and incorporated certificate but rather she had some of the documents of the company.
Lawyer Farage, however, stated that she would tender the documents she had but objected to produce the documents that were in the custody of the company.
She was told that she would be given time to produce the documents and she said they were not in her possession. However, she said she had to seek the permission of the company to produce the documents, further stating that she had the shares certificate of the shareholders of Gam Petroleum Storage Facility.
She added that the shareholders were Amadou Samba, Mr. Bazzi, Mr. Mazegi, GPA, GNPC and SSHFC. She said Gam Petroleum is an offshore company which used to have shares in the Gam Petroleum Company. According to her, she was not the lawyer who incorporated the company, further stating that in 2008, Gam Petroleum was restructured and that was when the said company was incorporated.
According to Barrister Farage, in 2009, Mr. Bazzi and Mr. Samba transferred shares to the Gam Petroleum, as Bazzi owns 99% share while Mr. Samba owns 1% in the Gam Petroleum Storage Facility Company; adding that she did not have documents authorising the closure of Gam Petroleum Ltd. She said the resolution of Gam Petroleum Storage Facility was in her custody and there were share transfers from Mr. Mazegi to Mr. Samba and from Mr. Bazzi to SSHFC.
The witness further testified that there was a resolution of transfer and cancellation of shares, and that Gam Petroleum Storage Facility Company was incorporated since 2003.
At that juncture, Memorandum and Articles of Association of Gam Petroleum Storage Facility, resolutions, share certificates, 2017 annual returns as well as documents relating to Gam Petroleum Company Ltd were admitted as exhibits. However, the witness disclosed that there was no resolution for the transfer of shares, but Counsel Bensouda put it to her that she was expected to produce the resolution of 2008 and 2009 among others.
Sittings continue today.
Author: Dawda Faye |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 08 Dec 2017 : 15:26:39
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Hawa Sisay-Sabally testifies in relation to $3M transfer
The Point: Friday, December 08, 2017
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/hawa-sisay-sabally-testifies-in-relation-to-3m-transfer
Hawa Sisay Sabally, a senior legal practitioner, yesterday testified before the Janneh Commission in relation to the sum of $3,000,000 transferred by Captain Ebou Jallow to a private bank.
Commission’s counsel, Mrs. Bensouda, told her that some amount was retrieved by Central Bank of The Gambia and that the Ministry of Justice was involved. She then asked her to explain how the ministry got involved in the transaction.
However, Mrs. Sabally intimated that she was not the attorney general at the time of the transfer but she was the solicitor general; adding that in 1995, she acted as the attorney general but was finally appointed in 1997 and subsequently terminated in 1998. She finally testified that she would not know how the ministry got involved.
Ousman Njie, acting chief executive officer, Standard Chartered Bank, while appearing before the commission, apologised on behalf of the bank for not appearing on the 6th December, 2017.
Mr. Njie testified that it was correct that their bank sold Premier Agro Oil Company to the former government in 2006; adding that there was an acknowledgement from Musa Balla Gaye, the former Finance minister, confirming the payment of D20,000,000 in relation to the purchase of the said company. He added that the Sheriff Division was in charge of the sale and payments were effected through the bank solicitor, Ms. Ida Drameh.
According to Njie, Premier Agro Oil Company was owned by Indians and was involved in the purchase and processing of groundnut. At this point, the witness, after looking at some documents given to him by counsel, confirmed them to be in connection to the sales of the company.
He recalled that the bank was dealing with the Ministry of Finance because the sale was arranged with the ministry. Documents relating to the sale of the company, including the company’s statement of accounts showing deposits of D20, 000,000 in sequence were admitted as exhibits.
When asked whether there was a title deed, he said the collateral was a plan but he was not sure whether a title deed was deposited. He said they were searching for the Memorandum and Article of Association, noting that there was an overdraft given to Kairaba Beach Hotel and the facility was extended to the hotel to the tune of $2,500,000 for the renovation of the hotel. When asked how he knew about these transactions given that there was no document with him, he responded that he knew it after he spoke to some staff of the bank.
Mr. Njie further confirmed that the bank received transfer of $10,000,000 out of which $7,500,000 was debited to Trust Bank, further stating that the facility was liquidated. At this juncture, Commissioner Saine asked why the managing director of the bank did not appear but the witness responded that he was out of the jurisdiction but was comfortable to proceed with his testimony. However, it was put to him that the commission was not comfortable with testimonies that were not accompanied with documents. The witness responded that they made searches for the Kairaba Beach Hotel file but could not trace it out.
The counsel therefore then urged the bank to endeavour and produce the file because there was controversy surrounding the sale of the hotel. The chairman of the commission advised him to inform the MD of the bank to appear before the commission.
At this juncture, Counsel Bensounda told him that he was expected on the 18th of December, 2017.
Next to testify was Mr. Abdoulie Cham, former Central Bank Financial Controller, who reappeared for the second time. He told the commission that in 2001, they went on a mission to Standard Chartered London after they received a Power of Attorney in connection to a loan amounting to $150,000,000 in Los Angeles in United States of America; adding that the loan was between Jewel Finance Corporation and the former government.
According to him, the purpose of travelling to Standard Chartered London was because the Banjul -based branch advised them to travel to the UK in respect of the loan, as they wanted to know the amount as well as the risk involved in the loan facility.
Mr. Cham reiterated that $28,500,000 was withdrawn from CBG which he said was a bridging facility and was treated as such. He added that when they received foreign currencies, they would do the posting in their books but could not tell whether the monies were recovered. He further confirmed that there was a withdrawal of $5,000,000 on the instruction of the Ministry of Finance.
At this juncture, Mrs. Bensouda applied to tender an IMF Country Report dated May, 2004 which was admitted together with the Power of Attorney and other relevant documents as exhibits.
Mr. Cham was asked about the proprietors of several bureau de change such as; ‘Waychett Faling’, Global Investment and Asset Management but could not remember some of the proprietors.
Commissioner Abiosseh George told the witness that she could not understand why some payments were made without capturing them in their records. Mr. Cham responded that since the former governor, among others, never took formal responsibilities, he could not do otherwise.
Author: Dawda Faye |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 12 Dec 2017 : 13:05:46
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GT Bank MD dwells on Ex-President Jammeh’s accounts
The Point: Tuesday, December 12, 2017
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/gt-bank-md-dwells-on-ex-president-jammehs-accounts
Mr. Ayodele Bolaji, managing director of Guaranty Trust Bank, reappeared before the Janneh Commission in relation to accounts belonging to the former president.
According to him, the former president used to own four accounts at the said bank, namely Dalasi, Euro, Dollar and Pound Sterling respectively. He said all accounts were opened in 2015.
He informed the commission that the Dalasi account was opened on the 7th February, 2015, and closed on the 30 June, 2017, and that it was frozen and the last transaction was on the 23rd of January, 2017.
The total deposit into the account, according to him, was D5, 780,725 which he said was Jammeh’s salary account, further stating that his monthly salary was D170, 000.
He said the balance was D4, 207,889.63, further adding that there were two withdrawals. According to him, there was a total deposit of $22,000 in 2015, and it was withdrawn on the 8 January, 2017.
He testified that the Euro account was opened on 8 January 2015 with a deposit of €15, 833.03 and the Pound Sterling account was opened in 2015 with a deposit of£12, 500.
At this juncture, transfer information, statements of accounts of Dalasi, Dollar, Pound Sterling and Euro were tendered and admitted as exhibits.
With regard to the office of the former first lady’s account, the witness revealed that there were four accounts opened on the 10 October, 2016; namely Dalasi, Euro and Dollar accounts respectively but there was no Pound Sterling account.
On the Dalasi account, former First Lady Zainab Jammeh and Alagie Ousman Ceesay were signatories to the account and the first transaction was done on the same day the account was opened while the last transaction was on the 13 January, 2017. The total deposit into the account, according to him, was D126, 844.20.
He added that this account was classified as government account because it was opened based on the letter the bank received from the Office of the First Lady and the balance in this account was D15.
On the Dollar account, he stated that it was opened on the 10 October, 2016 and the last transaction was 13 January, 2017, and there was a total deposit of $287,451 leaving a balance $8,691. He said all the payments were in cash deposited by Alagie Ousman Ceesay, chief protocol officer, Office of the former President. He, however, disclosed that there were various transfers to the United States of America, France and Morocco and there were twenty-six transfers in three months.
On the Euro account, the banker testified that there was a deposit of €33,896.52 into the account and the first transaction was done on the 10 of January, 2017, while the last transaction was 13 January, 2017, and there were five deposits made by Alagie Ousman Ceesay.
Mr. Bolaji further disclosed that all the transfers were sent to US to different payees and the balance was €0.31; adding that there was no Pound Sterling account.
At this juncture, the witness agreed with Counsel Bensouda that the accounts were used for the first lady’s personal business. Documents relating to all these accounts were tendered and admitted as exhibits.
On Operation Save the Children Account, the account had both Dalasi and Dollar accounts and the signatories were former first lady and the former vice president, Isatou Njie Saidy. The accounts were opened on the 29 January, 2016 and there was a letter from the Office of the former First Lady, signed by Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie.
According to him, the first transaction was on the 28 September, 2016, while the last transaction was 8 March, 2017, and the account was frozen. He said the total deposit in this account was $506, 865,160 and the sum of $25,000 was transferred to Israel and there were two cheques amounting to $68,250 and another $88,000 which were all transferred. He said there was a balance of $597,165 and the sum of $4,190 was transferred to T.K. Motors and that there was no transfer of dollars to hospitals.
On the Dalasi account, Mr. Bolaji revealed that the sum of D21, 237,877.60 was deposited while the balance was D1, 494,261.58 and the first transaction was on the 16 February, 2016, while the last transaction was 28 November, 2017. He added that the sources of these funds were from donor agencies, and the Republic of China donated over $400,000 into the Dollar account.
He further disclosed that Jah Oil Company donated D1, 000,000 while NAWEC donated D400, 000, as well as Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), Gambia International Airline (GIA) and Gambia Food Safety all donated significant amount to Save the Children Dalasi account through buying tables for dinner.
Mr. Mousa Mousa, managing director, T.K. Motors, said that he has been the MD since 2004; adding that the company was incorporated by Tarik Mousa in 1997. However, hence he was not prepared; he craved the indulgence of the commission to give him time to get prepared. He added that the proprietor of T.K. Motors, Tarik Mousa, also owns T.K. Exports and the shareholders of T.K. Exports are the witnesses, Tarik Mousa and Mrs. Aisha Balla Gaye.
Next to testify was Mr. Edrisa Njie, the managing director of Gambia Engineering and Consultancy Services (GAMECS),who was summoned in connection to the construction of slipways for two ferries, Aljamdou and Kansala. He said in 2011, he conducted a consultancy for the construction of slipways for the said ferries; adding that he was aware that the ferries were not operational.
According to him, their assignment was to design slipways for the ferries which was based on the information they had from Gallia Holding and GPA respectively. He said he saw the ferries when they arrived in Banjul and that they supervised the construction of the slipways.
He said prior to constructing the slipways, they made recommendation for geological situation to be identified but they later realised that the ferries could not dock and advised GPA for the landing site to be relocated which was done. He said while Aljamdou was on sea trial, the ram fell into the sea while Kansala was able to dock on the slipway constructed in Banjul. However, he said they were later asked to vacate the place and soldiers were deployed to guard the place and since then, he did not know what transpired.
Mr. Njie, however, said had it been there were dredges, then Kansala could have continued to operate or ply on the slipways constructed; adding that he did not know why Aljamdo’s ram fell neither did he know why they were asked out, even though there was another project being done for which he said requested their services to conduct a geological survey.
He said nobody was allowed to go and see the new project which was supervised by Global Trading, and that he had been in the field for 60 years.
Mr. Njie finally testified that there was no adequate information available to them before the arrival of the ferries. Meanwhile, GAMECS report prepared by the witness in relation to the construction of the slipways was tendered and admitted as exhibit.
Musa Bittaye, a senior legal practitioner, also testified in connection to the recovery of $3,000,000 transferred by Captain Ebou Jallow. He recalled that he was appointed on the 15 January, 1996, as attorney general and minister of Justice and was dismissed on the 23 April, 1996.
According to him, sometime in 1996, the then chairman of the AFPRC, Yahya Jammeh, asked him on the phone to see him at State House and told him that Captain Ebou Jallow had transferred $3,000,000 and solicited his advice as to what to do.
He told the former president that he had to go to Switzerland but prior to his travel to Geneva, he contacted the Gambian Consul to make arrangements for him to appear before a judge which he did. He said when he appeared before the judge, the judge requested for evidence and he then contacted the Ministry of Defence and Central Bank to provide him with some documents which he used to persuade the judge and subsequently Captain Jallow’s account in Switzerland was blocked.
According to him, because of the legal implication, he engaged a local Swiss lawyer to freeze Captain Jallow’s account but he was relieved of his duties when he returned. He assumed that those who took over from him could have proceeded with the matter in Switzerland; adding that he could not remember the bank where Captain Jallow transferred the said sum.
Mr. Bittaye further testified that the money transferred by Captain Jallow belonged to the former government, and that to the best of his knowledge, Captain Jallow was given a power of attorney to open the account in Switzerland; adding that he was also given a power of attorney to represent the former government in the matter. He said he did not ask the purpose of opening the account in Switzerland and Captain Jallow was not authorised to withdraw the money, as he never consulted his colleagues.
He said he never knew whether the money was retrieved, and that Captain Jallow was a member of AFPRC together with him, Yankuba Touray and Edward Singhatey.
Author: Dawda Faye |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 13 Dec 2017 : 14:39:54
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Works Ministry PS faces Janneh Commission
The Point: Wednesday, December 13, 2017
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/works-ministry-ps-faces-janneh-commission
Mariama Ndure-Njie, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Works, yesterday testified before the Janneh Commission in relation to state’s aircrafts.
Mrs. Njie, who is the only PS at the Department of Works, explained that she was appointed in January, 2017, and said they had an update from Gambia Civil Aviation (GCA) with regard to the fleet of the aircrafts which was requested by the ministry.
According to her, there was a Cabinet conclusion that they should sell all the fleet of the aircrafts and the date of their meeting was on the 19 September, 2017. At this juncture, she read out a report of the conclusion of the Cabinet.
She said the ministry recommended that they should set up a taskforce to sell the aircrafts and the members of the taskforce were the Office of the President, ministries of Finance, Justice, Gambia Civil Aviation and Gambia International Airline (GIA). She said the taskforce was for the disposal of the aircrafts, which was set up on the 16 October, 2017, and that an evaluation was done.
Mrs. Njie further stated that they had a list of five aircrafts from GCA, noting that C5 RTG is currently due for heavy checks and there was a potential buyer. She added that they were furnished with the assessment of the aircraft but not their value. She explained that they were not abandoning the evaluation but were waiting for the taskforce to make an assessment.
She then named the list of aircrafts that were assessed by the GCA and the ministry, namely GAF Boeing 727 100, C5 GOG, Boeing B727 100, C5 AFT and Challenger CL 601 and air tractors, such as C5 DOA and C5 KSE.
She, however, stated that she was not aware that the one in Germany was included in the sale.
According to her, the DG of GCA on11 December 2017 wrote an update regarding the status of the aircrafts, further stating that she did not know whether an advertisement was made for the disposal of the aircrafts. Documents relating to the disposal of the aircrafts were tendered and admitted as exhibits.
Further testifying, the witness said their ministry did not have a copy of the agreement prepared by the Ministry of Justice in relation to the sale of the aircrafts; adding that the director general of GCA in his update outlined that Omega Company offered to buy the Jet Fighter and the air tractors to the tune of €100,000 while another company by the name West Africa Service changed from their initial offer from €100,000 to €240,000.
She finally testified that the ministry is now waiting for the DG of Gambia Civil Aviation to come up with a valuation of the aircrafts.
Next to reappear was the managing director of GT Bank, Ayodele Bolaji, who gave evidence on the accounts of Jammeh Foundation for Peace. He said the account was opened on 5 February, 2006, and the signatories were Kebba Manneh, Cherno Camara, Mr. Jassey, and Dr. Alieu Gaye among others. He added that the account is still operating and they got a court order to freeze it.
Mr. Bolaji revealed that there were three Dalasi accounts and the first account was funded from monthly subvention by government while the second saving account were payments from patients, and the third one was a current account.
He testified that the bank received a letter informing them about the change of name of the hospital to Bundung Maternal Child Health Hospital. Documents relating to the JFP accounts were tendered and admitted in evidence.
Mr. Bolaji further stated that there were two other Dalasi and a Dollar account for JFP and the first transaction on the dalasi account was on the 27 November, 2015 which was frozen and the last transaction was 4 January, 2016, leaving a balance of D1, 119.06 while the balance for the Dollar account was $8,340, and the first transaction on this account was on the 30 October, 2015 and the last transaction was on the 5 January, 2016.
According to him, there was a total deposit of $200,000 which was converted to dalasi; adding that the balance in the Dalasi account was converted to dollar on the 4 January, 2016 and the sum of $40,000 was withdrawn by one Yamundow Njie. He added that on the 3 January, 2017, the sum of $200,000 was transferred to CBG account in sequence and was converted to dalasi.
Mr. Bolaji also disclosed that they got instruction to transfer D3, 000,000 to JFP account on monthly basis. He is, however, expected to provide all the debit transactions on the Dollar account.
According to him, another dalasi account was opened on the 22 of April, 2009 while another one was opened on the 11 July, 2015; adding that a Dollar account was also opened on the 24 January, 2015, and there was a total deposit of D28, 869,260.20 and the balance is D323, 274.78, and the last transaction was on the 15 March, 2016.
He said on the 8 of February, 2017, the sum of D452, 950 was transferred to Trust Bank and $9000 was deposited into the dollar account of Staff Welfare Account which is now Bundung Maternal and Child Health Care and the signatories are the staff and is still operational.
Account opening information, statements of accounts and some transactions for both JFP and PEGEP were admitted as exhibits.
Author: Dawda Faye |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 14 Dec 2017 : 11:00:56
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‘Former Government Deposited Monthly Subvention to JFP Hospital’ GT Bank MD
Foroyaa: December 13, 2017
By Mamadou Dem
http://www.foroyaa.gm/archives/19717
Mr. Ayodele Bolaji, Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank, yesterday revealed to the ‘Janneh’ Commission that the former government used to deposit money in one of the Jammeh Foundation for Peace Hospital accounts on a monthly basis, as subvention for the hospital.
But before Mr. Bolaji’s testimony, Mariama Ndure-Njie, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Works, yesterday testified before the Commission in relation to the State aircrafts. Mrs. Njie, who is the only PS at the Department of Works, explained that she was appointed in January 2017; that they had an update from the Gambia Civil Aviation (GCA) regarding the fleet of aircrafts at the request of the ministry. According to her, there was a cabinet conclusion that they should sell the fleet and the date of their meeting was on the 19th September, 2017. At this juncture, she read out a report of the conclusion of the cabinet meeting. She noted that the ministry recommended that they should set up a taskforce to sell the aircrafts and the members of the taskforce were the Office of the President, Ministries of Finance and Justice, Gambia Civil Aviation Authority and Gambia International Airline (GIA); that the taskforce was set up for the disposal of the aircrafts, and it was set up on the 16th October 2017; that an evaluation was also done. Mrs. Njie further stated that they had a list of five aircrafts from GCA; that C5 RTG is currently due for heavy checks and there was a potential buyer; that they were furnished with the assessment of the aircraft but not their value; that they were not abandoning the evaluation but were waiting for the taskforce to make an assessment.
She then named the list of aircrafts that were assessed by the GCA and the Ministry as GAF Boeing 727 100, C5 GOG, Boeing B727 100, C5 AFT and Challenger CL 601. Air tractors, such as C5 DOA and C5 KSE were also included.
She however stated that she was not aware that the one in Germany was included in the sale.
According to her, the DG of GCA wrote an update regarding the status of the aircrafts on the 11th December 2017; that she did not know whether an advertisement was made for the disposal of the aircrafts. Documents relating to the disposal of the aircrafts were tendered and admitted as exhibits.
Further testifying, the witness said their Ministry did not have a copy of the agreement prepared by the Ministry of Justice in relation to the sale of the aircrafts; that the Director General of GCA in his update, outlined that Omega Company offered to buy the Jet Fighter and the air tractors to the tune of €100,000 while another Company by the name West Africa Service, changed from their initial offer from €100,000 to €240,000. She finally testified that the Ministry is now waiting for the DG of the Gambia Civil Aviation to come up with a valuation of the aircrafts.
In his testimony after Mrs Njie, Mr. Bolaji of the Guaranty Trust Bank said the Jammeh Foundation for Peace account was opened on the 5th February 2006, and the signatories were Kebba Manneh, Cherno Camara, Mr. Jassey, and Dr. Alieu Gaye among others; that the account is still operating and they got a court order to freeze it. He revealed that there were three- dalasi accounts and the first account was funded from monthly subventions deposited by government while the second savings account were payments from patients and the third one was a current account.
He testified that the bank received a letter informing them about the change of name of the hospital to Bundung Maternal Child Health Hospital. Documents relating to the JFP accounts were tendered and admitted in evidence.
Bolaji further stated that there were two other dalasi and a dollar account for JFP; that the first transaction on the dalasi account was on the 27th November, 2015, which was frozen; that the last transaction was 4th January 2016, leaving a balance of D1, 119.06 while the balance for the dollar account was $8,340; that the first transaction on this account was on the 30thOctober 2015, and the last transaction was on the 5th January 2016.
According to him, there was a total deposit of $200,000 which was converted to dalasi; that the balance in the dalasi account was converted to dollar on the 4th January 2016, and the sum of $40,000 was withdrawn by one Yamundow Njie; that on the 3rd January 2017, the sum of $200,000 was transferred to CBG’s account in sequence and was converted to dalasi.
Bolaji disclosed that they got instruction to transfer D3, 000,000 to JFP account on a monthly basis. He is expected to provide the Commission with all the debit transactions on the dollar account. According to him, another dalasi account was opened on the 22nd of April, 2009 while another one was opened on the 11th July 2015; that a dollar account was also opened on the 24thJanuary 2015, and there was a total deposit of D28, 869,260.20 making a balance of D323, 274.78; that the last transaction was on the 15th March 2016. He said on the 8th of February 2017, the sum of D452, 950 was transferred to Trust Bank and $9,000 was deposited in the Dollar Account, now Bundung Maternal and Child Health Care and the signatories are the staff; that this account is still operational.
Account opening information, statements of accounts and some transactions for both JFP and PEGEP were admitted as exhibits.
Sitting continues today.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 14 Dec 2017 : 14:42:50
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Senior GTBank official sheds light on Kanilai Family Farms accounts
The Point: Thursday, December 14, 2017
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/senior-gtbank-official-sheds-light-on-kanilai-family-farms-accounts
Mr. Ayodele Bolaji, managing director of Guaranty Trust Bank, yesterday continued to testify before the Janneh Commission, relating to accounts opened by JFP, PEGEP and Kanilai Family Farms respectively.
According to him, the signatories to the President Empowerment for Girls Education Project (PEGEP) were Alieu Njie, Dominic Jammeh and Ramou Cole-Ceesay and the first transaction on the dalasi account was on the 28 July, 2002 while the last transaction was 12 September, 2017. He said that the last debit before it was frozen was on the 26 May, 2017.
Mr. Bolaji testified that there was an inflow of D166, 666.60, further stating that there was a balance of D797, 211.41. On the Dollar account, he revealed that on the 8 April, 2010, the first payment was made into the dollar account and there was a cheque from the Taiwanese Embassy in relation to this payment. He added that there was a balance of $293.19, and that the last transaction was made on Jun. 3, 2014.
At that juncture, account opening information, statements of accounts and other related documents from these accounts were tendered and admitted as exhibits. However, Mr. Bolaji reiterated that the correct figure for the balance on JFP current account was D2, 848.37 instead of D332, 274.78.
On APRC Fund Raising Committee Account, he said it was opened on the 9 February, 2004 and the signatories were Abdou Badjie, Fatou Mbaye and Abdoulie John; adding that there was another fund raising account linked to the first one with the same signatories, noting that out of the three APRC accounts, one was an investment account. He said the balance on the first dalasi account was D112, 282.38 while the last transaction was on the 2 May, 2017 but was frozen. He said the account was funded through donations.
Mr. Bolaji further testified that on the 9 September, 2015, there was a transfer of D255, 000 while the sum of D150, 000 was paid for APRC gala dinner. On the other Dalasi account, there was no payment from the former government.
According to him, the APRC Youth Account was opened on the 21 September, 2016 and the signatories were Mayor Yankuba Colley, Babucarr Sowe, Abdou Badjie and Pa Sulay Faye. The first transaction on this account, according to him, was on the 22 September, 2017 and there was a balance of D1, 968.31 and the funds were also from donations.
On the July 22nd Anniversary Marathon Account, he stated that the signatories were General Yankuba Drammeh, Lamin Jassey, Mamud Jawla and General Musa Savage; adding that there was a withdrawal of D20,000 by General Musa Savage which was also a donation from government. He said the balance was D957, 385.93.
Mr. Bolaji further indicated that the Kanilai Family Farm Ram Sale Account was opened on the 18th of September, 2015 and the signatories were Isatou Auba and Yam Bamba Njie-Keita who were removed and replaced by General Sulayman Badjie and Mamburay Njie on the 21 October, 2015, further stating that the last transaction was on the 25 November, 2016, to the tune of D15, 833.38 while the balance was D2, 552,536.87 before it was frozen.
Mr. Bolaji further testified that there was a conversion of D100, 000 into dollars and the total deposit was D8, 564,570.26, further stating that on 16 October, 2017, Isatou Auba withdrew D2, 000,000 which was signed by herself and Yam Bamba Njie-Keita.
The GT Bank boss further revealed that another account called Kanilai Investment was opened on 6 August, 2009, with Dalasi account and Pa Ousman Bojang was the signatory.
He told the commission that the first transaction was on 29 December, 2011 and there was a withdrawal of D450, 000 while the last transaction was on 26 May, 2017, with a dividend payment of D1, 742,541.97, leaving a balance of D1, 756,216.16.
The senior banker informed the commission that the first transaction on the dollar account was $42,000 on the 6 August, 2009, from Green Impact. He said the last transaction on the account was $2,069,646.72 on the 21 July, 2016.
Documents relating to the accounts were tendered and admitted as exhibits.
Commissioner Saine, at that juncture, put it to the witness that the bank accepted a high ranking military officer to be a signatory to a corporate account without having a role in the company,and then asked whether this was normal. In response, he said at times this was acceptable.
The commission will today embark on a site visit.
Author: Dawda Faye |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 18 Dec 2017 : 21:56:58
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‘Janneh’ Commission Visits Kanilai
Foroyaa: December 18, 2017
By Mamadou Dem
http://www.foroyaa.gm/archives/19817
The ‘Janneh Commission’ last Thursday embarked on a site visit to the former President’s residence in Kanilai, to inspect his assets such as his cattle ranch, safari lodge, warehouse, wildlife, crocodile and fish ponds, completed and incomplete presidential buildings and furniture amongst others.
The inspection by Commissioners at the former President’s village, is part of their mandate of inquiring into the assets and financial dealings of Yahya Jammeh and his close associates.
The delegation headed by the Chairman of the Commission Sourahata Janneh, was received by officials of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF). The first place visited was the cattle ranch situated at the far east of the former president’s residence. There is a road that connects the main entrance of the residence to the cattle ranch, which was all fenced with electrical installations.
At the cattle ranch, the herdsman who is a member of GAF, explained to Commissioners that the cattle are of Brazilian and Malian breeds and the former president fed them with animal feed; that now they graze outside.
Major Lamin D Sanyang of GAF who is entrusted to take care of the frozen assets in Kanilai, disclosed to the delegation that at the last head counting, there were 639 cows, but was quick to add that the number has increased because some have delivered.
Dwelling on the mode of living of wildlife such as hyenas, Major Sanyang explained that when some of the cattle die, they provide them the carcass for them to feed on; that without this, they are isolated. He also explained how they provide feed to the crocodiles.
A depreciating fish pond embedded with crocodiles was also inspected and according to the GAF official, the joint-crocodile fish pond, used to generate water through an electrical system which in turn supplies water to the women’s garden; that the system has now been condemned and replaced with cash power. He said the pond is gradually drying up due to the disconnection and inconsistent supply of water; that this has also affected the gardeners.
cattle ranch
According to the GAF official, there were 97 Caterpillars that are both road and un-roadworthy; that there were plans by the former president to construct a water factory but it never materialized. Farm implements such as showing machines, tires, cars, plumbing and electrical materials were also seen in containers and in warehouses respectively.
Fanciful buildings and luxury furniture were inspected at the former president’s residence and it was observed that termites have already made up their way in some of the furniture. This prompted Commission Counsel to urge Major Sanyang and team, for people to be contracted to upkeep the place. Sanyang responded that once he gets the authority and recommendation, this will be done with immediate effect to avoid the place from ruin.
agricultural machinery
Alieu Jallow, Registrar General at the Ministry of Justice who escorted the delegation of Commissioners to various places within the villa including the private residence of the former president, stated that it was the place where the former president used for relaxation.
Apart from the residences of the former president, unfinished buildings were also visited and it was observed that there was a bunker built by the former president. On the other side of the building, were bags of rotten groundnuts. Upon visiting the Sindola Safari lodge, members were shown another fish pond of cat fish only, covered with water lilies. Other areas within the lodge have been well taken care of as the Bahama grass and the flowers caught the eyes of the delegation.
From the lodge, the delegation drove to an estate now used as a Military Camp for the ECOMIG Soldiers, situated on the outskirts of the village.
Upon arrival, the Commission wanted to inspect the buildings and materials left by the former president. However the Commanding Officer at the Camp, Commander Gaye intimated that he did not receive instructions from his superiors in Fajara and therefore could not allow the Commissioners to carry out their job as expected.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 19 Dec 2017 : 15:54:48
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Trust Bank MD makes revelations on ex-president’s accounts
The Point: Tuesday, December 19, 2017
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/trust-bank-md-makes-revelations-on-ex-presidents-accounts
Mr. Ebrima Sallah, managing director, Trust Bank Gambia Ltd, was recalled in connection to accounts opened by the former president including various Kanilai Family Farms accounts.
Dwelling on the accounts operated by the former president, Sallah disclosed that there were Operation Save the Baby Account, AU First Lady Conference Account, Higher Education Support Account and PAC PEC Taskforce Account.
On the Operation Save the Baby account, he said it was opened on the 6 June, 2010 and the first transaction was on the 19 June, 2010 with a sum of D350, 000 and the former president was the sole signatory; adding that the last transaction on this account was on the 23 January, 2017,with a sum of D520,640.29 and it was used by the bank to settle a debt owed by the former president, and he said he did not know why the account was opened and the balance is zero.
Sallah further explained that there was a payment made to the tune of D350, 000 to open the account, adding that there was no withdrawal.
On AU First Lady’s Conference account, he said it was a Dalasi current account, and was opened in April 2006, he further stated that Mrs. Elizabeth Hardings, Teneng Ba Jaiteh and Fanta Ceesay, director of Social Welfare were the signatories to the account. He said the last transaction was D3, 900 and the balance was D2, 045,620.87, while the total deposit was D2, 523, 935.
On the Higher Education Support Account, Sallah alluded that it was opened in 2013 and the signatories were Abdoulie Sallah and Njogu Bah. He said the first transaction was a cheque payment of D10, 000 and the sum of D9, 575 was withdrawn and there was a balance of D425.
On the PAC/PEC account, he said Mr. Kalilou Bayo and Nuha Touray were the signatories and the first transaction was on the 7 August, 2012 in the sum of D323, 750 while the last transaction was on the 5 April, 2017 and there was a balance of D96, 877.38.
Another account in the name of Hospitals for the Treatment of HIV/AIDS, he informed the commissioners that there were Dalasi current and savings accounts respectively with the same signatories and was opened in September, 2007, and the former president was the sole signatory.
According to him, the first transaction was on the 27 September, 2007 and the sum of D49, 000 was deposited into the account while the last transaction was on the 23 January, 2017. However, there was a total deposit of D1, 676, 792.06 and there was a total debit of D200, 000 by the bank for settlement of loan by the former president. There was an additional cash payment of D20, 000 into the same account, he said.
Mr. Sallah testified that there was another payment of D748, 000 while on the Dollar account, he said the first transaction was on the 21 September, 2007 with a deposit of $50,000 paid in by one Juma S.G. Janneh and the last transaction was $58,461.89. He added that on the 28 November, 2007, there was a cheque payment of $300,000 and on the 19 of December, 2007, there was another payment of $1,000,000 from the Republic of China on Taiwan.
At that juncture, commission’s counsel, Amie Bensouda, asked Mr. Sallah to make more efforts and provide the commission with the source of an initial cheque deposited into the same account and the total respectively.
Continuing, the witness disclosed that in September, 2007, there was a Dalasi savings account and the first transaction was on the 24th of September, 2007, with the sum of D185,000 and a debt of D519, 621.77 was debited by the bank. Responding to counsel, the witness disclosed that nothing like opening a hospital was shown in the account opening information.
According to him, the sum of $43,000 was withdrawn from the account. At that point, account opening information, statements of account, transaction documents and other relevant documents relating to these accounts were tendered and admitted as exhibits.
On President’s Treatment Program Account, he said the sole signatory to this account was the former president and it was opened in June, 2010 with a cheque payment of D200, 000 which was from GAMTEL/GAMCEL Staff Association and the last transaction was on the 5 April, 2017, and there was a payment of D5, 000, while the balance was D8, 555.70
Another account operated at Trust Bank by the former president was the APRC Travel account and the signatories were Yahya Jammeh and Sanna Sabally. He said the account was opened on the 11 October, 1994. He said there was no actual transaction in this account; however, he said the account was subjected to freezing and on the 1st of July, 2005, there was a balance of D344, 185.71.
On July 22nd Account, he said the signatories were Alieu Ngum, Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay, Hassoum Ceesay and Abdoulie Sallah and was opened in September, 2008 and there was a cash deposit of D10, 000,and the balance was D9, 910 but this account never operated since it was opened.
The banker further disclosed numerous accounts operated by Kanilai Family Farms (KFF).
On KFF, Abattoir Savings Account, the signatories were Adama Jagne and the former president, opened in October, 2011 and the first transaction was on the 19 October, 2011 with a deposit of D25, 670 while the last transaction was on the 23 January, 2017, to the tune of D766, 981.66 which was debited to JFP.
On Kanilai Family Farm Garage account, the former president was the sole signatory and it was opened in November, 2009 and the first transaction was 10 November, 2009 to the tune of D2, 518, 953.75 and the last transaction was on the 1 August, 2010, with a transfer of D2, 600,000 to Central Bank of The Gambia for the purpose of auto mechanical works at Kanilai village, leaving a balance of D23, 529.24 and the account was not frozen.
On Kanilai Family Farm Sugar Book account, he said the sole signatory was the former president and it was opened in August, 2012 and the first transaction was on the 14 August 2012 with a credit of D324, 025 and the last transaction was on the 23 May, 2014, with a cash payment of D60, 000, leaving a balance of D264, 519.20.
On Kanilai Family Farms (Farms) account, the signatories were the former president and Pa Ousman Bojang, and were opened in September 2010 and the first transaction was on the 1 of September, 2010, in the sum of D50, 000.
Next to appear was the managing director, Standard Chartered Bank, Olukorede Adenowo, who was summoned in connection to the acquisition of Agro Oil Company plant by the then government and the sale of Kairaba Beach Hotel in which the bank was involved.
Mr. Adenowo testified that he had a deal of the venture for Premier Agro Oil Company and the total value of the company was D49, 483,291.90, further stating that he had the title deed of the facility which was deposited at the bank and a copy of the judgment between Agro Oil Company, the bank and the second defendant.
On Kairaba Beach Hotel, the witness testified that he was in possession of the sale agreement between Millennium Industrial and General Trading Company and MA Kharafi and Sons dated 8 June, 2004. Asked how the bank got involved in the sales of the hotel, he responded that the bank was supposed to provide a working capital for the refurbishment of the hotel and they were supposed to have $2, 600,000 from the assumed price of $10, 000,000. He added that the bank would not release the hotel’s title deed if the debt was not paid and the facility was extended to the hotel as per the file.
According to him, the sale agreement explained how the $10, 000,000 was to be settled; adding that they would furnish the commission with the names of the shareholders of the Millennium Industrial Company.
Relevant documents relating to Agro Oil Company and sales of Kairaba Beach Hotel were admitted in evidence. Earlier the MD apologized for not appearing before the commission as he was out of the jurisdiction.
Author: Dawda Faye |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Janneh Commission of inquiry on Y. Jammeh's assets
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