Jammeh never wanted to be asked questions on the Gamtel gateway - says Momodou Sabally

The former secretary general, Momodou  Sabally, yesterday told the Janneh Commission that former President Jammeh never wanted to be asked questions on the Gamtel gateway.

He reappeared to shed light on the contract between MGI Telecom Company and the government for the management of Gamtel international gateway which he signed in his capacity as the then secretary general.

Testifying before the commission on the contract, he said he was called at Kanilai where he met the former president, former managing director of Gamtel, Baboucarr Sanyang, Bala Jassey, a gentleman from Switzerland  and  General Saul Badjie  for MGI to take over the management of the gateway.

According to him, an agreement was reached for MGI to take over the gateway which included the technical aspect of the contract and proceeds were sent into the government account and MGI also had a share.

However, he said he could not remember whether there was specific fees that MGI supposed to receive, further stating that the former president decided to terminate the contract of TELL, the reason, he said, he was not privy to.

Further testifying, Sabally claimed that he believed that General Saul Badjie had an influence on the said contract , noting that Gamtel contracted the gateway management to MGI.

He further told the commission that they signed an agreement and MGI took over the management of the gateway, further stating that after one month, he did not see the said gentleman from Switzerland.

According to him, he called the then Gamtel MD  at the time and told him that revenues were not being paid and further forwarded his concern to Jammeh who promised him that he would take care of the issue.

Sabally stated that the former president downplayed his constraint and later he travelled, so when he came back few months later, he was fired as SG.

He recalled that he signed the agreement but could not remember the terms and conditions of the contract neither could he recall the date he signed the contract.

He stated that he did not seek legal advice and could not remember who was present at the time of signing the contract, noting that it was possible that the contract he signed was missing.

Mr. Sabally went on to say that it was the responsibility of Gamtel to protect the interest of the government, further noting that he was aware that an account was opened by the office of the former president.

Further testifying, he told the commission that he did not know whether the former president requested for an incentive for terminating the contract with TELL.

He said he believed that his dismissal partly had to do with the contract, noting that any time the gateway was changing hand, he would not be involved.

Commissioner Saine, at this juncture, asked him what was the interest of the former president in the gateway, and he responded that he believed that the former president benefitted from the contract.

Mr. Sabally adduced that he would not say Saul Badjie was a co-president but he believed that he was more powerful than the former vice president, adding that Saul Badjie was calling ministers and giving them instructions.

“There were consequences for not abiding by Saul Badjie’s instruction,” he finally told the commission.

Earlier, the managing director of FIB, Modou Mousa , reappeared in connection to KGI and KFF files.

He told the commission that they had the original copies of the accounts of these companies.

He was, however, reminded by counsel that they had submitted four accounts. On the JB KGI account, the signatories were Alieu B. Ceesay and Sajar Camara , noting that the account was opened on 7 November, 2012.

At this juncture, transaction documents and other relevant documents were tendered and admitted as exhibits.

Dwelling on KGI  joint venture account, he said the signatories were the same while on KGI bakery account ,he said it was opened on 14 June, 2014, with a balance of D92,040.14 and the signatories were Goreh Njie, David Omar Bass and Binta Sanneh.

Further testifying on KGI Japanese rice account, he said it was opened on 13 May, 2014, and the signatories were the same and there was a balance of D2, 497,830.25.

On KGI Gambia Muslim butchers account, he stated that it was opened on 6 May, 2016, and the signatories were the same, with a balance of D658, 148.23 and there were no transactions on the account but service fees were charged.

Mr. Mousa said KGI boutique account was opened on 30 May, 2014, with the same signatories, noting that there was a balance of D56,923.48.

On KGI cement account, he told the commission that it was opened on 19 March, 2015, with the balance of D33,308.65 with the same signatories.

On Sindola Safari lodge account, he testified that it was opened on 2 February, 2010, and Amadou Samba served as signatory to the account on 10 September, 2012, and the balance was D210, 876.03.

Further testifying, Mr. Mousa disclosed that the Mooten Kafoo account was opened on 26 July, 2008, while the signatories were the former president and Ebou Jammeh, with a total balance of D13, 185.34.

At this juncture, the said accounts were tendered and admitted in evidence.

Dominic Gomez, the managing director of Zenith Bank, also faced the commission in connection to the accounts submitted to the commission.

Dwelling on some accounts, he mentioned that KGI Japanese rice account was opened on 18 January, 2011, and Ousman Bojang was the sole signatory, noting that there was a balance of D834.87 at the time it was closed while another KGI Japanese rice account, he stated was opened on 22 May, 2014, and the signatories were Wory Njie-Ceesay, Saja Camara and David Omar Bass with a balance of D160, 016.62.

Documents relating to the accounts were tendered and admitted in evidence.

Hearing continues today.