Sainabou Martin testifies over 300 bags of rice purchased by KMC

Also, they received donations from women gardeners for the same purpose.

Sainabou also recalled that one day, Talib Ahmed Bensouda, the mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council, informed her that his brother, Lawyer Abdul Aziz Bensouda, negotiated with Shyben A. Madi to procure 300 bags of rice, and this was how the KMC went ahead to purchase the rice.

She informed that KMC made the payment from the donations received for the COVID-19 relief. Sainabou admitted that the procurement rules were disregarded. 

Lead Counsel Gomez reminded her that the mayor’s family law firm represented the KMC and only left when he was elected in 2018, citing a conflict of interest.

Then Senghore’s Law Practice took over. However, Sainabou maintained that Mayor Bensouda informed her that Aziz was his personal lawyer. 

At that juncture, the lead counsel referred her to the Local Government Finance and Audit Act regarding funds and revenues of the Council. The law specifically provided that donations are part of the revenues of the council.

Sainabou admitted it did not follow due process, acknowledging that- "The environment was intimidating. We were made to do things that we did not want to do."

Sainabou said the KMC officials, including the mayor, used to remind her of Salama Njie, a former CEO of the KMC, who was removed through a council resolution.

She explained that it was done to intimidate her so that she would do things as it pleased them. “In fact, that was what happened to me.” she said.