Jun 22, 2022, 11:14 AM | Article By:Yunus S. Saliu
TThe Point Newspaper
It is 40 years down the lane that the helicopter carrying former President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara and his delegation crash-landed near Brikama Ba, some 280 kilometers away fromBanjul.
This resulted in the death of former vice president of The Gambia, Mr. A.B. Njie and few others.
Others that survived the crash included the late President’s Press Secretary, Jay Saidy, the Secretary General Professor Jabez Langley, Journalist Sulayman Njie (Saul Njie) and the pilot. But Sir Dawda Jawara’s close friend and confidant A.B. Njie, who was the former vice president and Foreign Affairs Minister at the time died on the spot.
Its worth knowing that most of these occupants of the helicopter, according to The Gambia News Bulleting issue of Friday 23rd April 1982, “suffered minor injuries were flown to Dakar immediately while the rest, including the President, went to Bansang Hospital, then to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital in Banjul” for treatment.
The day of the incident was described as a “very sad day” by Gambians because the late president just survived a coup seven months earlier before the helicopter crash which was the reason he used the helicopter during his election campaign in the year under review.
According to gathered facts, the former president was advised by the Senegalese security (soldiers) guarding him at the time to travel by air for security purpose taking into consideration his safety after the coup.
“To ensure his safety, the Senegalese army guarding him at that time thought it was unsafe for him to travel by land or in a car to do his campaign and therefore advised him to travel by helicopter as the Senegalese intelligence thought Kukoi Samba’s rebels might still be hiding in the bushes to strike or attack him,” historian Hassoum Ceesay explained.
The crashed helicopter was a borrowed one to the Gambia government then by the former President Abdou Diouf of Senegal “but the helicopter was completely destroyed.”
According to investigation, it was revealed that the crash was due to human error and when it crashed, one of the blades fell off “while the pilot was commended because when the blade fell off, the pilot ran the chopper into a tree to minimise the impact. According to investigation, if he hadn’t done that nobody would have survived the crash, because the chopper would have exploded if crash landed on ground direct” historian Ceesay narrated.
According to the Bulletin, “the helicopter crash-landed between two ancient ‘taboo’ trees on the fence of a compound at the Bantaba of Brikamanding, a village one kilometer from Brikama Ba. It lay in a mess of broken parts, sticks and wires. The door of the cockpit had flung open revealing the smashed dark interior. The main door too was ripped off hinges showing the damage to the passenger compartment. Three fence posts had pierced the underbelly of the helicopter, with one piercing the roof of the chopper.”
The Managing Director of Jah Oil Company, Momodou Hydara, testified on Monday before the Public Enterprises Committee and the National Assembly Joint Committee of Finance and Public Accounts about the $30 million petroleum products scandal involving 36,953.614 metric tons.
Hydara gave a detailed account of how Apogee FZC introduced his institution to Creed Energy during his testimony. Yes, Creed Energy, that’s how we learned about them. If my memory serves me correctly, that would be in the latter half of 2023. And Apogee, a business that imports and trades petroleum products into the nation, is the only way we are aware of them. Additionally, we purchase petroleum products from Apogee; Creed Energy issues the invoice and receipt for these purchases.
A committee member named Hon. Kebba Lang Fofana questioned Hydara, who said Apogee had enough inventory in the depot.
In response, Hydara said that it was not a secret when Apogee arrived in the nation. Since they are an Oil Marketing Company (OMC), they disseminate information swiftly.
Thus, information regarding a product’s availability anywhere or anything spreads swiftly. We even communicate with each other in a group chat on occasion. We so learned right away that Apogee, a new actor in the depot, had enough stock in those tanks. This is how we were able to swiftly get things from them when we ran out of PSTV supplies and also noticed a new person. The committee was then advised, “Let us get some from them to keep our stations running until we can find another supplier.”
Eventually, MD Hydara said, he was put in contact with Apogee’s national representative—whose name he cannot recall—who lives in a hotel.
He was then prompted by Hon. Kebba Lang to elaborate on the specifics of his organization’s dealings with Apogee.
MD Hydara responded by stating that Jah Oil had indicated interest and had contacted them using a contact number they had. The person from Apogee then asked for the required quantity, which his business gave.
“I can’t recall the amount, but that was the first transaction. Then, we revealed to him (Apogee’s Representative) that we had an invoice with the bank details on it, at which point we initially displayed Creed Energy. I subsequently said, “Well, how come it was Apogee and now it’s Creed?” They went on to say that Creed is the national brand or local agent handling the deal. I’m not interested in learning the reason behind Creed’s sneaky appearance at Apogee’s expense, as it seems to be an internal market for them. He emphasized, “For us, the most important thing is that the products we want are available.”
MD Hydara was questioned by Hon. Fofana, “Who sends the Creed Energy invoice?” To which MD Hydara said, “Normally, it’s sent via email.”
Hon. Fofana then asked if, after receiving the invoice, MD Hydara had checked its legitimacy with a representative of Apogee.
“Of course, I had to ask questions when we received an invoice for the first time,” MD Hydara replied. We were reassured that it wouldn’t be a problem because it was from the same company, so we moved forward.
Also, MD Hydara was questioned by Hon. Fofana on his familiarity with Ultimate Beige Logistics. In response, MD Hydara stated that he was unaware of Ultimate Beige Logistics.
“Creed Energy is the one I know and the few transactions we have; I don’t know anything about Ultimate Beige logistics,” the man remarked.
The reason MD Hydara thought it strange that Jah Oil received an invoice from Creed Energy instead of Apogee was the question Hon. Fofana posed to him.
Since Apogee told us it owned the products, I would like to be completely honest with you about my honest assessment of the situation. Apogee now claims that since Creed Energy is a local business, the deal can proceed. Therefore, all that’s going through our minds is, “Maybe this is their national representative? Perhaps they’re not registered while Creed is,” he added.
He said that this is the first time he has come across a trader transaction done in this way.
When Hon. Fofana asked about Apogee’s current situation, MD Hydara replied that although they see Apogee as traders when they buy from them, they also acknowledge them as efficient distributors.
Hon. Fofana then questioned MD Hydara about whether he was aware of the name of the oil marketing firm that had contacted Apogee for services, as well as if Apogee had an initial client or OMC upon entering the nation.
In response, MD Hydara said he was not aware of any OMC that had brought Apogee into the nation, but if such information was available, he might be able to find it at the depot.
Additionally, MD Hydara mentioned that throughout this time, Apogee has posed difficulties for the nation’s licensed oil marketing companies.
As everyone is aware, the Gambia Petroleum Depot has a very little storage capacity and can only hold a very modest quantity of goods. That is where all Oil Marketing Companies with Gambia registrations should keep their goods in order to distribute them elsewhere. The realization that one player, about whom not much is known, had been allocated a sizable portion of the depot became quite depressing. If not every store, and that’s where we ran into trouble because we couldn’t bring in as many vessels to store as we used to,” he asserted.
He said that they are permitted to import and keep products in accordance with their mandate and licensing. But every time they encounter rejection, it gets harder.
Hon. Fofana asked if the denial had any particular justifications. In response, Hydara said that the only rationale they are given is that there isn’t any room.
“Therefore, we personally monitor the situation to ensure that we know whether it is true that there is no storage space available, and the only way we knew this was by watching the stock daily report, when it becomes evident that rejections are getting excessive. The oil marketing companies (OMCs), particularly the larger ones like us (Jah Oil Company), who have been honoring fuel in this nation on a regular basis, were unable to find space because Apogee occupied almost 80% of the space or more. It is astounding that every time we apply, we are turned down. And even if there is a place, we are eventually rejected, so realizing that it is incorrect was shocking. No one has ever denounced it, he claimed
Yesterday was the turn of the national fuel storage company Gam-Petroleum in the National Assembly inquiry into allegations of bribery and tax evasion by three companies, Apogee FZC, Creed Energy Limited and Ultimate Beige Logistics, suspected of importing and selling petroleum products in The Gambia worth $30m without paying taxes.
The product was in a Russian ship in the Atlantic Ocean before it was brough to The Gambia.Appearing before the enquiry, General Manager of Gam Petroleum Yero Jallow, began by the telling NAMs that his company had a deposit agreement with Apogee to store their products at the depot as they would for any trader with the right products
According to Jallow, the original arrangement was for them to supply product to somebody who needed it but that original sales deal collapsed while they are already here. “So they had to look for alternatives, which is normal in oil and gas business, and so they looked for a terminal to store the product and that is when they came to us and they came at a time when we also needed the product,” Mr Jallow said.
He added that following the storage of the petroleum, they received subsequent ‘release orders’ from Apogee, a Dubai-based company to release the petroleum to buyers.
According to Mr Jallow, Gam-Petroleum’s deposit agreement with Apogee came at a time when the country was facing a “fuel crisis” between March, April and May 2023. But he said because of the circumstances, Apogee came to the country and his company had to take extra steps to “do certain things they don’t do with others.”
“We went to the extent of ensuring our team boarded the vessel before it came to the depot and obtained samples to verify whether the product is up to standard,” he said.
He said following their assessment, they realised the petroleum product was of “best quality” and it has made a good impact in the market.
Asked if Gam Petroleum management had conducted due diligence on the credibility of Apogee before establishing relations with them, GM Jallow said: “As a storage facility, we don’t go deep into investigating people’s identity beyond what they have provided. We only request certain documents which they have provided and we establish relations and sign the agreement”.
Jallow added that Gam Petroleum does not have the resources to investigate every trader they deal with. “That is why we don’t care too much because we are only holding their property and only control the product after the agreement,” he added.
“The trader is trading the goods. They don’t need to establish themselves in a country before they come in. So why would we need to look into the credibility? What concerns us is the product, and whether it is good or not,” he said
Asked to give names of persons who acted as facilitators for Apogee during the sale of the products, GM Jallow said the company has its own facilitators, Aurimas Steblys who acted as Apogee’s commercial director and one Nana who represented Ultimate Beige Logistics, a Ghanaian company registered in The Gambia.
GM Jallow’s testimony at this point was marred by tense arguments with several lawmakers repeatedly using parliamentary Standing Orders to bring the witness to track.
At one point, Mr Jallow accused NAMs of having a “preconceived mind” against Apogee which was why they were not getting his points.
That accusation was taken up by nominated member Kebba Lang Fofana, who stated that the committee is approaching the investigation with impartiality and an open mind. He asked Jallow to withdraw his statement, which he did.
Mr Jallow then continued to reveal that 75 percent of the shares of Gam-Petroleum belong to GPA, SSHFC, GNPC and Ministry of Finance while the remaining 25 percent is owned by Star Oil Group.
Asked how Star Oil Group managed to own such large shares since it newly came into the Gambian oil market, Mr Jallow said this was in place before his appointment.
The session was suspended with the witness expected to appear again
The permanent secretary at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Louis Moses Mendy, has confirmed a shooting incident at Wellingara Primary School.
“It is unfortunate that this happened, and the victim is in the hospital receiving medical treatment,” he said.
He added that investigations are ongoing to determine what actions need to be taken.
Mr. Mendy, who condemned the incident, called on parents to inculcate discipline in their children.
“Parents need to take care of their children and screen them properly before going to school,” he told The Fatu Network.
Meanwhile, the police last night issued a short statement that they are investigating the incident which was reported by the vice principal of the school.
“The police quickly responded to the scene, recovered the weapon, and secured it.
The public will be duly informed of any developments as the investigation into the incident continues,” the statement said.
Acting on a National Assembly resolution to furnish lawmakers with a comprehensive list of all fraud cases across government institutions, Vice President Muhammad BS Jallow has told NAMs that even though some cases are investigated and completed, some of the persons allegedly involved have absconded.
The National Assembly’s Finance and Public Accounts Committee passed a resolution in September last year resolving among others that government ministries, departments and agencies provide lawmakers with a comprehensive list of all fraud cases including names, amount, dates and the current status of each case.
Appearing before the plenary yesterday, Vice President Jallow provided an update on the following institutions; Gambia Immigration Department, Directorate of National Treasury, Department of Forestry, Parks and Wildlife, Gambian missions in Bissau and France, Brikama Health Centre, Brikama sub-treasury and Kerewan sub-treasury.
Updating on a fraud case involving the Immigration Department officers at the seaport, the VP said an investigation by the police revealed that visa fee amounting to D1,302,000.00 was received by the cashier but only D700,000.00 was paid to the Government Account leaving a balance of D602,000.00 unaccounted for. He told NAMs that a follow up with the Ministry of Justice revealed that the perpetrators [Immigration officers] have been taken to court and the case is adjourned for judgement.
The vice president also disclosed that at the Directorate of National Treasury, some staff were involved in unauthorized withdrawal of public funds amounting to D4, 064,363.15. “This case was reported to the police for investigation, upon the completion of the investigation by the police, it was sent to the courts and the culprits were subsequently prosecuted,” he reported.
In the Brikama Health Center fraud case, VP Jallow disclosed that some revenue collectors including Yankuba Keita and others were collecting revenue and not banking it to the tune of D406,674.00.
“The said case was reported to the Police who are still working on the case. Whilst investigations are ongoing an amount of D319,000 has been recovered leaving a balance of D87,674.00.”
For the Brikama sub-treasury, the vice president stated that the case involved un-accounted revenue amounting to D6,592,172.50 by Faisal Bojang. According to him “the matter is at the courts, however we were informed that the accused has absconded.”
At the Kerewan sub-treasury, the VP said: “A case of fraud committed by Baboucarr Bojang to the tune of D2,136,327.61 was reported to the police for investigation, however up to the time of writing this report the case is still under investigation at the level of the police.”
He also stated there was another fraud case of unaccounted revenue at Janjanbureh sub-treasury involving Fakebba Bojang amounting to D521, 000.00 reported to the police and still under investigation.
Mission in Guinea Bissau
According to the VP, there was also a fraud case at the Gambian mission in Bissau involving one Baba Gomez who was allegedly involved in an unauthorised withdrawal of D390, 000.32. “This case is still under investigation at the level of the police, however the culprit is mentally imbalanced.”
Mission in Paris
The VP also disclosed there was a fraud case amounting to Euros 27,500 involving Faisal Bojang at the Gambia Embassy in Paris since 2014. “But upon completion of the investigation by the police, the case was forwarded to the court for prosecution. The case cannot proceed as the culprit has absconded.”
A staff at a Forex Exchange Bureau at Westfield was on Friday 18th January 2024 stabbed “multiple times” to death by an alleged armed robber.
The incident happened shortly before Jummah prayers. The victim, Fatou Kargbo, was rushed to Westfield clinic, but she was confirmed dead on arrival.
An eyewitness told this reporter that the alleged armed robber also attempted to kill himself by stabbing himself with the same knife and he fell down, but he was rushed hospital.
“He stabbed himself as well. But I heard he did not die, he is still alive,” the eyewitness told Foroyaa.
The spokesperson of the Gambia Police Force Cadet Assistant Superintendent, Binta Njie, confirmed the incident to Foroyaa, adding that as of Friday 18th January 2024, the alleged armed robber was responding to treatment.
Lamin Dampha, a commercial taxi driver, who is an eyewitness, said that he saw the alleged armed robber around the Bureau, but he never knew that he was there to rob the victim.
“When I heard the victim shouting, I ran towards the Bureau but before I reached there he had already stabbed the woman and himself too. I was among the first people to reach the scene because I was not far from there; he (the alleged robber) knew that he would not escape because people were coming. He used the knife he was holding and stabbed himself and fell down,” he said.
Mr Dampha said looking at the alleged robber, he concluded that he was dead because the way he stabbed himself was serious.
Foroyaa will continue to follow up the incident with the Police and will update its readers.
The secretary general at the Office of the President, Salimatou Touray, is heading a high level investigation team in Cuba, looking into reports of economic malfeasance and an alleged fracas between Ambassador Sheikh Tijan Hydara and his deputy, Vincent Mendy.
The two were reported to have been involved in heated altercations which ended in a physical tussle in the ambassador’s office in Havana on January 25. Both have been recalled but are yet to return to Banjul.
The news was broken by online portal What’s On Gambia and has since been picked up by many press and broadcast outlets in the country.
A source confirmed to The Standard that at the heart of the matter and high on the investigation team’s area of interest is the alleged financial maladministration following a tip-off from the embassy’s bank in Cuba raising concern about certain movement of money from the embassy’s account to personal accounts.In the current arrangement at Gambian missions, ambassadors are not signatories to accounts but deputy ambassadors, financial attachés and first secretaries are, in this case Vincent Mendy, Jabou Colley and Lamin Jammeh respectively. It is not known which of these officials are involved and how.
The team of senior government officials in Havana investigating the matter include the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lang Yabou, Alhagie Jallow from the Accountant General’s Office, and auditors Bernard Mendy and Haddy Sanneh.
Contacted for comment on the matter from Cuba yesterday, PS Yabou told The Standard: “We are trying to put the pieces together regarding the issue to be able to understand what exactly happened.” He declined to elucidate.
