The trial involving Lamin Fatajo, former project
coordinator of the Rural Finance Project, Muhammed Lamin Mass, acting finance
and administrative manager of the Rural Finance Project under the Ministry of
Agriculture, and Ms Ada Gaye, former permanent secretary at the said ministry,
yesterday failed to proceed before Justice Abi of the Banjul High Court.
The case could not proceed as the state failed to serve the third accused person, Ms Ada Gaye, the former permanent secretary, a notice to appear in court.
When the case was called, defence L.S. Camara announced his representation for the 1st and 2nd accused persons, while Aji Adam Ceesay and E.R. Dougan appeared for the state.
State counsel Ceesay then told the court that they did not serve the 3rd accused with a notice to appear in court, but promised to serve her the notice to appear in court before the next adjournment date.
The trial judge subsequently adjourned the case to 24 March 2015, for mention.
According to the indictment, which was not read in court, the accused persons, Lamin Fatajo and Lamin Mass, in count one stated that between February and November 2013, in Banjul and diverse places in The Gambia, while being employed as Programme Coordinator of Rural Finance Project and acting Finance Administrative Manager of the Rural Finance Project respectively, abused their offices by authorizing and approving the payment of D117,521 as salary advances for project staff in contravention of the project finance and administration procedure manual.
Count two stated that the two accused persons between December 2013 and May 2014, neglected their duties by failing to stop the payment of D18,000 as sitting allowances to some committee members who failed to attend such meetings.
Count three stated that the accused persons between December 2013 and May 2014 approved the payment of D18,000 as sitting allowances to some committee members set up to review the union finance promotion centre and were not entitled to the same, which act was detrimental to the economy and people of The Gambia.
Count four stated that the accused persons, Lamin Fatajo, Lamin Mass and Ada Gaye, between 1 and 31 July 2014, being employed as Programme Coordinator of Rural Finance Project, acting Finance Administrative Manager of the Rural Finance Project and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture respectively neglected in their official duties by authorizing the payment of US$14,000 to Sonko Fofana without first seeking and obtaining approval from IFAD.
