The accused involved in the case involved five military officers - Lance Corporal Sanna Fadera, Sergeant Gibril Darboe, Corporal Ebrima Sannoh, Corporal Omar Njie and Police Sub-inspector Fabakary Jawara – who have been indicted on treason, concealment of treason and incitement to mutiny charges.
Beginning his testimony, the witness confirmed before the court that he recognised three of the accused - Sanna Fadera, Gibril Darboe and Ebrima Sannoh.
“Sanna Fadera is my class. We did the same basic military training. The second one we were together for overseas training in Turkey. The third one, we served together at Fajara Barracks,” the witness said.
“On the 26th of November 2022, I received a call from Sanna Fadera. When I received the call, he proposed a visit to my house in Farato. He told me that he would be coming in the evening around 7pm. I told him I would be waiting for him.
“Around 11pm, I decided to call him because it was becoming late. I called him and told him it was 11 and almost getting late. He said: ‘I am almost at Mingdaw Junction, where am I supposed to come? He asked for direction and I directed him,” the witness noted.
The military captain said he later received the witness and walked him into his house, adding that he walked him to the parlour and gave him a seat. Mr Jobe noted further that from there the witness told him that his purpose of going to his house was to “salvage the country”.
Thus, the witness testified, he asked Sanna what he meant by that? “He told me: ‘I want us to overthrow Barrow.’ When he told me that, I told him you cannot do that. The decision is unpopular and it is between life and death,” the military captain stated.
“I told him to desist from the act, that such an act is unbecoming of a soldier. He responded and told me that all was intact. From there, he pulled out a document he called operational plan and said, ‘Oga, have a look at this.’
“Looking at the operational plan, I told him you cannot do this. I further asked him: ‘Who is the ring leader?’ Then he told me that he is the ring leader. From there, I reflected on my duty and responsibility as a military officer,” Captain Jobe testified.
“Going through the operational plan, I realised battalions were tasked and also realised this was bigger than me.”
Captain Jobe told the court that it was at this moment that Sana Fadera (1st accused) asked him what was his take, and he (the witness) replied that he was going to school and wouldn’t want anything to alter his university progress and reputation. He added that he also told the 1st accused that, besides, he was not on duty but on leave.
“I asked him: ‘How do you feel by going against the verdict of the people?’ I told him further that in a coup a lot of things occur; that is, loss of innocent lives, collateral damages. Then he took a pen and started noting down some of those points I raised.”
