In a move that underscores the ongoing scrutiny of past administrations, Sergeant Adama Jagne has been charged with contempt of the National Assembly today, following investigations into the sale and disposal of assets related to former President Jammeh for concealing information and not being truthful to the committee.
This is in pursuant to section 109 and 110 of the 1997 Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, Order 102 and 140 of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly and the National Assembly Powers and Privileges Act.
On Tuesday Sergeant Adama Jagne, Commanding Officer of the State Guard Workshop, faced the Special Select Committee for the fourth time on the sale and disposal of assets of former president identified by the Janneh Commission.
What began as a routine testimony quickly exploded into a dramatic tale of covert vehicle sales, cash handovers in plastic bags and confesses to secret car sales after Janneh Commission
Sgt. Jagne admitted that his name appeared in recent vehicle transactions some as recent as 2025, long after the Janneh Commission had supposedly concluded its work in 2019.
“I did not sell them as an individual,” Jagne began nervously, but yes, my name appeared in the transactions.”
Pressed by counsel who accused him of withholding information in previous appearances, Jagne responded saying: He is the one who normally asks me to sell,” Jagne said, referring to Mr. Saidyba, the man at the center of the controversy. “He would tell me, ‘this is my vehicle, I bought it from the auction and sell it for me.’ But later, I realized he did not buy it from the auction.”
This was the first time Jagne openly acknowledged facilitating vehicle sales on behalf of someone who may not have had legitimate ownership.
When asked how many vehicles were involved, Jagne’s answer was hazy: “There are three vehicles that I was the one giving the money, cash,” he said. “That one, I think I got over D300,000.”
According to Jagne, the cash was handed to him in a plastic bag, which he then delivered to Saidyba, who, in return, gave him D20,000 as a personal cut.
“I gave him the money, it was in a plastic bag,” he testified. “Then he gave me about twenty thousand. One of my boys, Gibril, was there when it happened.”
Counsel seized on this point, questioning why Gibril could confirm the D300,000 handover but not the alleged D20,000 kickback.
“It’s not that he cannot confirm it,” Jagne explained, when I gave the D300,000, Gibril was there. But when Saidyba gave me the D20,000, we were in another vehicle. He did not see it, he only knew after I told him.”
When asked why he had failed to mention any of this during his four previous appearances before the committee, Jagne said,
“I did not say it because I was not asked about it,” he said. “All I was asked about was the tractors. I was never asked who sold and who did not sell.”
“Mr. Jagne, you expect this committee to believe that you were moving hundreds of thousands of dalasis in government vehicle sales and you kept quiet because we didn’t ask the right question?” Counsel stated.
Jagne maintained that this was the only reason he didn’t mention it.
This has warranted for his arrest after several warnings of his previous appearance.
