The decision follows the committee's findings that accused Jobe of misconduct in office, specifically regarding his involvement in a controversial policy and alleged interference in police investigations.
The report revealed a letter dated 3rd July, 2023 bearing reference MOP/COM/12/01/Part XII (10) issued by the former petroleum minister addressed to General Manager GP, General Manager GPS, all international traders/ depositor and all licensed importers/ exporters Captioned “Government Policy on storing and lifting of petroleum product at storage facilities in the country for transit and re-export”.
It further revealed that this letter was followed by another letter dated 14th September, 2023 bearing reference number BCS 101/26/01/ (01) addressed to general manager GP, General Manager GPS, all international traders/ depositor and all licensed importers/ exporters Captioned “Government Policy on storing and lifting petroleum product at depot/ storage facilities in the country for domestic market and re-exports”.
“This letter was further followed by another letter dated 30th October 2023 bearing reference BSC 101/264/01(01) addressed to General Manager GP, General Manager GPS, all international traders/ depositor and all licensed importers/ exporters Captioned “Government Policy on to defined limits for depositing importation and re-export of petroleum products in relation to policy number MOPE/GOGP/PP/002”.
The committee observed that the said policy reference MOPE/GOGP/PP/002 was never produced to the committee for inspection and verification, thus the committee finds and holds the said policy to be fictitious.
While reading the report, the committee chairperson, Hon. Alagie S. Darboe, said the committee observed the fundamental difference between the letter dated 3rd July 2023, and the letter dated 14th September 2023 from the Minister for Petroleum and Energy communicating the government policy on importation, storage and lifting of petroleum products.
The committee also noted that the letter dated 14th September communicated a departure for international traders to deposit petroleum products in the depot without going through local importer (OMC).
Hon Darboe further disclosed that the testimonies of the Former/ Current Permanent Secretary at the time of the investigation revealed that the purported new policy did not follow the due process and there was no evidence of cabinet approval or consent of other ministries.
“The investigation revealed that the coming of the purported new policy was meant /designed to give legitimacy to Apogee FZC to technically operate as an OMC, the way Apogee FZC come into the market and did business in the Gambia contrary to the norm.
“The Committee observed that the testimonial of the PS seems to indicate giving Apogee FZC all the haulage space at the depot during the period, defeated the purpose of liberalisation and promotion of fair trade in the sector, and this act resulted in bias towards Apogee.”
