National Assembly FPAC Asked IGP To Investigate Some Institutions

The Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) has officially tasked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to launch an investigation into some key government institutions in the country over mismanagement of Covid-19 funds and other offences. The institutions to be investigated include the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Grant Management Committee (GMC), the Gambia Tourism Board, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), the Kuntaur Area Council, and the Statistical General. It would be recalled that the National Assembly resolved and made recommendations to various governmental institutions on FPAC’s report on the 2019 audited accounts of government, the Auditor General’s report on Covid-19 response, and audited financial statements of public agencies and institutions, cities, municipality and area councils from June 2022 to July 2023. Yesterday, FPAC met with the National Audit Office and the Accountant Generals Office to review response of various institutions to the lawmakers.

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health was tasked to provide missing vouchers of one million six hundred and fifty thousand dalasis to Brikama national audit and FPAC. Mr Serign Mass Jallow, of the National Audit Office, disclosed that the payment vouchers provided were photocopied and the attachment list of the relevant beneficiaries was not attached to the payment vouchers. “In addition, the payment review was raised by the AG department in respect of the transfer of funds to Brikama sub-treasury. However, the issue raised by the Brikama sub-treasury and supporting document of the onward payment of the allowances to relevant beneficiaries were not presented,” he said. The chairperson of FPAC committee, Hon Alagie S. Darboe, said the MoH had “failed to provide” the said missing vouchers, hence it should be forwarded to the IGP for investigation. The GMC was tasked to provide evidence of disbursement of three hundred and eighty-five thousand one hundred and fifty-nine dalasis to media houses. Mr Jallow revealed that they reviewed the evidences and noted five hundred and eighty-five thousand one hundred and fifty-nine dalasis was disbursed by the Gambia Press Union (GPU) to media houses. However, he added that the audit team could not confirm whether the funds were utilised by media houses as prescribed in the agreement. “There was no evidence to suggest that funds were accounted for and bank statement were not presented by beneficiary media houses; only DHK has provided its bank statement, as a result the issue remains unresolved.” The committee referred it to the IGP. Mr Mass Jallow further noted the evidence presented by NDMA “varies” between the amounts that were recorded in the cover letter. Due to this issue; “we were unable to rely on it. No evidence in relation to this difference was included in the evidence provide,” he stated. “The Payment Voucher PLP 180885, dated 29th October 2020, amounting to three million five hundred thousand dalasis relating to disaster victims was presented for their review but does not relate to Covid-19 response Shortage of delivery oil by the international commodity insurance: “In our review on the evidence presented by NDMA through the National Assembly, we noted that it was the same information that was provided to us during the audit,” he said. On evidence of delivery, he stated, the balance of fifty-three thousand seven hundred and ninety-one drums of ten-liter oil worth thirty-seven million six hundred and fifty-three thousand seven hundred dalasis was not presented. The only delivery note included in the submission was for the sixteen thousand two hundred and nine drums of ten-liter oil, he added. On the certificate of confiscation, he said the confiscation certificate was presented during the audit, thus the disposal report or certificate was not provided. Based on the evidence provided for review they noted the following issue: “The LRR confiscated report for 28 bags of rice was reproduced, not all confiscated food items were supported with a destruction certificate. Based on the issues noted, we can’t rely on the destruction report presented after the audit.” The rest of the institutions also failed to provide information they were tasked to provide thus, the FPAC decided to refer them to the IGP for investigation. Source Thepoint.gm

Ousainou Told Me He Kill 2 Police Officers

Courtsy of the Voicegambia.com Mama Jabbi a business woman and marabout Tuesday told the Banjul High Court that the first accused Ousainou Bojang had confessed to her of killing two PIU officers with third one admitted hospital. Appearing before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh as third prosecution witness Mama narrated how Bojangconfessed to her in Jululung of the alleged police shooting incident which took place on 12th September 2023 at Sukuta /Jabang Traffic Light. The witness said Ousainou Bojang met her at her compound in Jululung on a Wednesday at 2pm two months ago. Mama explained that Ousainou Bojang left the Gambia and went to Jululung garage where he met the leader of the garage and told him that he needed help because something mistakenly happened and he was directed to her Mama Jabbi’s house. Upon arrival, Mama said Ousainou alighted from the commercial motor cycle, and was quick to say that she was shocked upon seeing the accused Ousainou Bojang. “I then told my friend that this man did something and that was when Ousainou told methat I need your help with an amulet and also fare to go to Zingchoror because I killed two police officers and the other one is admitted at the hospital” she told the court. Jabbi told the court that Ousainou asked for water to perform ablution, and she gave him water and praying mat but he (Ousainou) sat on it and did not pray.

“He then told me help me my life has been destroyed and I asked him his name and address and he told me that his name is Ousainou Bojang and a resident of Brufut, then I took a picture of him and a recorded him. He said to me don’t record me on video and I told him okay I will not’’ she said. Mama further explained that Ousainou asked her to help him “but I told him that I could not help you because killing someone was too extreme.’’ I said to him wait for me then I left and called the Senegalese police and asked if they were aware of the murder that took place in Gambia, they said yes, they were aware of it and they asked me if I have his (Ousainou)’s picture and voice recorded. I responded that I have the picture and the audio with me then they asked me to share with them. Jabbi said she was told by the Senegalese police to sit and wait for them but should not allow Ousainou to know that they were coming to her (Mama’s) house. She added that they were seated when theSenegalese Police Officer came hand curved Ousainou’s hand and put him in a vehicle. “After that I called Musa Camara in the Gambia who works at Gambia Revenue Authority, then I told him that the person who killed the police officers was here with me, Musa Camara told me to wait let him call the police. later after calling the police Musa called me and told me lets meet at Jiboro, upon my arrival at Jiboro, I met with the Gambian Police and Musa Camaraand returned back with them to Jululung” she informed the court. She said upon their arrival at Jululung police station, she went and sat somewhere until when the Gambia police officers and Jululung officers finished talking, adding that the Senegalese Soldiers and the Gambia police officers together with Ousainou took a picture and put him in the Senegalese vehicle and took him to the border and the Gambia police took him from there and they continued to Gambia while she was inMusa Camara’s vehicle.The matter was adjourned to 20th November 2023 at 10am for cross- examination of PW3Mama Jabbi Courtsy of the Voicegambia.com

Baitullah Junior’s Sedition Trial

Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of Banjul High Court on Monday granted an adjournment for the state lawyers to bring the third prosecution witness (pw3) in an alleged sedition trial involving Omar Kujabi. Kujabi who is known as Baitullah Junior, with seditious intend made several WhatsApp audios calling on people to go out onto the streets and march to the State House to unlawfully remove President Adama Barrow. The charges he denied. When the case was called by the clerk yesterday for the hearing of the testimony of the third prosecution witness (pw3), the state’s lead lawyer FatoumataDrammeh told the court that they were unable to secure pw3 and she applied for the court to grant them an adjournment. But defense lawyer Lamin J Darboe, who was not opposed to the State lawyer’s application, made the court quickly adjourned the matter for today (Tuesday), for the hearing of the testimony of the third prosecution witness. It could be recalled that Omar Kujabi sometime in September and October 2022 in Kafuta Village and diverse places in the West Coast Region of the Republic of The Gambia, was alleged to have intimidated and annoyed as well as threatened to assault officers of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU), who were sent to arrest him. He is also accused of causing fear and alarm to the public through his WhatsApp and internet platforms.

Paulo Djabi drug case Set For Judgement

The High Court in Banjul presided over by Justice Achibonga will deliver judgment on the issue of jurisdiction of the drug case involving Paulo Djabi, Nadine Perira, Mamadu Neto Djabi and Secuna Djabi. It would be recalled that on 13 September 2023, the accused persons were arraigned before the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court on charges of narcotics offences, money laundering and related offences contrary to various sections of the Drug Control Act, 2003 and the Anti-money Laundering and Combating of Terrorist Financing Act, 2012. The respondents (the accused) took their plea and pleaded not guilty to all the offences charged. After plea taking, the appellant's Counsel (the State) applied for the respondents to be remanded in prison custody for want of jurisdiction to hear and determine the money laundering offences. However, the appellant's application was opposed by the respondents' counsel on the basis that the Magistrates' Courts have jurisdiction to hear and determine the offences of money laundering and consequently applied for bail on behalf of the respondents. After hearing both submissions of the counsel, the learned Principal Magistrate agreed with the position of the respondents' counsel and admitted the respondents to bail. The appellant was dissatisfied with the decisions of the Magistrates' Court and filed a notice and grounds of appeal and motion seeking for stay of execution of the bail, which was granted as prayed pending the hearing and determination of the appeal. The High Court ordered that the hearing of the appeal be expedited and records of proceedings settled within 14 days. On 1st November 2023, the High Court gave some days to the state counsel to file their brief in response to the record of appeal and within which defence counsel were instructed to file their reply within a few days. Yesterday, Counsel L. Jarjue, who appeared for the state, filed their brief of argument, stating that the subordinate courts lacked jurisdiction to interpret and determine any provision of the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act, 2012, which was one of the offences the accused were charged with. Counsel L. Jarjue further argued that a higher court could interfere as the learned Magistrate had no jurisdiction and wrongly exercised his discretion judicially and judiciously in the case thus urged the court to allow the appeal and set aside the decision of the lower court in its entirety.

Defence lawyer S. Tambadou, filed their brief of appeal arguing that the fact that “the respondents are foreign nationals is not borne out by the record”, adding that “nowhere is it stated in any part of the record that the respondents are foreign nationals”. He argued that the only reason that the appellant opposed bail in the Kanifing Magistrates' Court was that the court lacked jurisdiction to try offences under the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorist Financing Act, which was captured in the ruling of the learned Principal Magistrate. Counsel Tambadou urged the court to resolve the issue in favour of the respondents and held that the learned Principal Magistrate was right to grant bail to the accused. He further urged the court to dismiss the appeal. The presiding Judge, Justice Achibonga, adopted the briefs of both counsel and set 22 November 2023 on judgement on the issue by the lower court.

Immigrations Dept Ready to Tackle Backway Journey

The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) has vowed to end irregular migration before the end of the year as they launched ‘Operation Zero Departure’ to close down irregular immigration routes in the coastal areas. The operation was unveiled on Thursday, 9 November following the recent high seas tragedies involving many Gambian youth. ‘Operation Zero Departure’ is a nationwide operation that aims to prevent boats from leaving the Gambia. Commissioner Sulayman Kujabi said the primary target of the operation and the patrol is the human smugglers widely regarded as the ‘agents’. Commissioner Kujabi said the patrol team will conduct a 24-hour patrol, adding that the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) will support them. Kujabi stated that they would be prosecuting the smugglers. He said his office would engage in sensitization of people about the dangers of using the perilous journey to Europe, calling on the fisher folks to stop aiding the people who want to embark on the dangerous journey. Fishermen have been accused of helping in transporting migrants to their main boats that are usually stationed in the high sea. The Immigration Commissioner of Operation, BabucaarxJanneh, said they intercepted twenty-seven boats that aimed to leave the country. ‘Some boats have escaped and that led to loss of lives,’ he said.

Janneh said they have recently prevented one hundred and fifty (150) people from boarding a boat in Kartong. He added that they have also stopped dozens of youths in Sutusinja and Bonto in the West Coast Region from leaving the country. Janneh explained that the migrants use numerous waterways to leave the country. ‘They are leaving through all waterways in the country,’ he said. Commissioner Janneh urged immigration officers to patrol in groups to avoid being attacked by the migrants, adding that some of their officers were attacked by migrants in Bakau and Barra when they attempted to stop them from leaving the country. Janneh lamented that irregular migration is killing many young Gambians. ‘If we don’t stop this, we will lose the next generation of our youth,’ Janneh said. He said they are intensifying their patrols along coastal areas in a view to deter the migrants from using the coast to travel. He underscored that they have received (7) new vehicles for the patrols and the GID is striving to have effective patrols along the water. Janneh unveiled that they have one hundred (100) plain-clothes immigration officers who are gathering intelligence on all irregular migration routes. ‘We are not saying no to migration, but we are saying no to irregular migration. And it has to stop,’ he emphasised.

The Commissioner of the West Coast Region, Mariama Nyang, said the Operation will bring together the GID, the police and the Gambia Navy. She promised the operation would conduct constant patrols because the loss of the recent boat tragedy has ‘hit’ the country hard. She added that they will leave no place for irregular migrants to use because the country is losing a whole generation. She informed the press that the patrols would be informed by the intelligence gathered by their officers. She further added that the operation zero departure will cover all areas in the country, from Kartong to Koina

Barrow Reiterated Gambia’s Support For Palestine

President Adama Barrow has reiterated the Gambia’s support for Palestine as he called for an immediate unconditional ceasefire to prevent more bloodshed. “The Gambia is committed to finding political and economic solutions to creating a just, peaceful, and better world for all. Therefore, we reiterate our support for our Palestinian brothers and sisters and call for an immediate unconditional ceasefire to prevent more bloodshed,” the Gambian leader stressed as he delivered a statement at the 8th OIC Extraordinary Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “The Palestinian people have been fighting for their rights for over seventy-five (75) years. As we speak, there is a huge loss of life and injuries to many innocent citizens, including women and children in Palestine. The massive destruction of property is unimaginable,” President Barrow bemoaned. “In our view, the best option for a peaceful settlement of this dispute is a Comprehensive Peace Accord based on the “two-state solution”, with Israel and Palestine existing as two independent sovereign states, side by side in peace, justice, and harmony. We re-echo our call to give peace a chance by demonstrating commitment, solidarity, and cooperation,” he underlined. He continued: “We call for an urgent International Peace Conference for a lasting solution to the Palestinian problem. Meanwhile, we appeal to the International Community to compel the occupying force to abide by the tenets of the peace process, International Law, International Humanitarian Law, and UN Security Council Resolutions. Long Live peace, stability, and good neighborliness between Israel and Palestine!” Meanwhile, addressing the Africa-Saudi Summit in Riyadh, President Barrow applauded the efforts made to sustain the “excellent” fraternal ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and The Gambia. “Our laudable and mutually beneficial consultative and cooperation initiatives clearly manifest this. Our shared values have cemented our relations as members of many global and regional organizations to uplift human dignity and improve our socio-economic environment. Through such networks, we continue to renew our commitment to the cause of humanity, peace, and stability. In this respect, we thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their numerous humanitarian interventions in The Gambia and invaluable contributions to the welfare of our people. In particular, we thank the Kingdom for all the funding we received through the Saudi Fund for Development to host the 15th OIC Summit in The Gambia,” the Gambian leader acknowledged. He gave Saudi Arabia the assurance that The Gambia supports the Kingdom in hosting the 2030 EXPO, expressing joy that the Kingdom has acquired the right to do so. He pointed out that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia equally deserves to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034. “We congratulate them heartily!” he stated. “I must, at this Summit, reiterate our continued solidarity with the Kingdom to confront threats against its sovereignty and security. Also, we support their efforts to normalise relations with their neighbours. As peace-loving countries, The Gambia and Saudi Arabia share a similar vision for global peace,” the President emphasized. He commended the Kingdom for their peace endeavors in Sudan and expressed appreciation for the evacuation to Jeddah of Gambian nationals trapped in Khartoum at the outbreak of the conflict. President Barrow said that The Gambia looks forward to new openings to boost its relationship through Agreements on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Recruitment of Public and Domestic Workers following the Air Transport Services and Bilateral Cooperation signed between the two countries, “In addition, signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Exemption of Visa for Saudi Nationals will further enhance travel and investment opportunities in The Gambia. Like the Kingdom under its “Vision 2030”, The Gambia Government is prioritising such sectors as agriculture, the digital economy, and tourism to achieve the sustainable development goals. Additionally, to attract more domestic and Foreign Direct Investments, we have legal frameworks that guarantee the protection of investments and businesses in The Gambia,” he added. The Gambian leader said hosting the Saudi-Africa and Arab-Africa Summits in Riyadh indicates the commitment to the development aspirations of Africa. “I hope the Summit will build on the foundation already laid between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the continent and will take full advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area initiative. We expect that it will also unlock the potential of millions of people to contribute to the continent’s sustainable economic development goals,” he added. He underscored that The Gambia supports the UN Resolution, calling for the unconditional ceasefire and release of all hostages. “Likewise, we call for an International Peace Conference for Comprehensive Peace to resolve the fight for a Two-State Solution, with Palestinians and Israelis living side-by-side in peace and harmony. Meanwhile, we wish our Palestinian brothers and sisters victory in their quest for Sovereignty and full Independence,” he stated.