Alieu K. Darboe, was a member of various committees at the council namely-Market, Foreign and Integration, Education Committee, and Youth and Sports Committees.
He told the commission that his ward did not receive allocation from the Council with regards to Ward Development needs during his time as councilor.
On the issue of the Geology Funds sent by the Government of The Gambia to BAC for mining communities, Darboe revealed that they discussed it at one of the council’s meetings in 2019 and his ward received two letters from the Council regarding the funds, but never received anything during his time as councilor.
Darboe was also questioned about a letter sent to the council clerk stating they would abstain from all Council’s meetings due to the illegal occupation of Office of the then chairperson of the council, Sheriffo Sonko.
Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez put to the witness that because he (Sonko) was expelled from his party, ‘you refused to attend meetings of the council?
In response, Darboe affirmed as such and that the boycott lasted more than three months, and they received their allowances.
Counsel Gomez also told the witness that the idea that Sonko was occupying office illegally ‘remains an issue of opinion’, which had not been determined by a court or a competent authority.
That, he said, is because there was a legal procedure for removing a council chairperson.
He later acknowledged that it was wrong to boycott council’s meetings and thus apologised to his people for his failure.
Darboe equally admitted that the ‘Salibo’ allowances they were given was illegal because they did not work for it.
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