Former WAAPP boss trial adjourned

The case involving the former coordinator of the West Africa Agriculture Productivity Project (WAAPP), Sheikh Tijan Sosseh, was yesterday adjourned before Justice Emmanuel Ahmadi of the Special Criminal Court.

When the case was called, the lead defence counsel, Antouman Gaye, told the court that the state would some time come and say the counsel handling the case had travelled out of the jurisdiction.

He pointed out that the case started since July 2013 and there was still no progress.

The trial judge then ordered the clerk to prepare the hearing notice and serve it on the AG regarding the case, to inform the counsel handling the case that further failure to appear on the next adjourned date he might strike out the case, because the case could not be hanging over the head of the accused person.

The case was then adjourned till 2 April 2014, for hearing.

The particulars of the offence in count one stated that Sheikh Tijan Sosseh, while employed as the project coordinator of the Gambia Emergency Agricultural Production Project (GEAPP), failed and or omitted to fully apply the 5.3 million euro agricultural grant from the European Union through the World Bank, thereby caused the return to the World Bank $67,489.20, which omission was detrimental to the Gambian economy and the welfare of the people of The Gambia.

Sheikh Tijan Sosseh was also accused on count two that while employed in the public service of The Gambia as the project coordinator of the Gambia Emergency Agricultural Production Project (GEAPP), neglected to effectively supervise the construction and rehabilitation of Seed Multiplication Center at Chamen in The Gambia.

On count three, Sheikh Tijan Sosseh was alleged to have, while employed as the project coordinator of the Gambia Emergency Agricultural Production Project (GEAPP), recklessly paid D15,895,152.25 to general procurement services in spite of the shoddy construction and rehabilitation works at the Chamen Seed Multiplication Centre and thereby caused economic loss to the public bodies in The Gambia to wit, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Gambia Emergency Agricultural Production Project.