Commission Probing Into Former Gambian President Jammeh (Part 4)

Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank, Bolaji Ayodele, Monday continued testimony before the three-man Commission of Inquiry where he revealed that a total of forty-three withdrawals were made from his bank from 2nd November, 2015 to 9th December, 2016.

Headed by Surahata Semega Janneh, Gambia’s president, Adama Barrow himself presided over the swearing-in of Commission members on July 13th with a three-month mandate from July, to act on the financial activities of public bodies, enterprises and offices as regards to their dealings with the country’s former President, Yahya Jammeh.
When the lead Counsel, Amie N Bensouda asked whether he has supporting documents for every withdrawal on the dollar and dalasi accounts of Alhamdulilah Petroleum and Mineral Company (APAM), Mr. Ayodele said all the receipts of transactions were intact. Lead Counsel Bensouda applied to tender the transaction documents into evidence which were admitted in bundle and marked as exhibits.
Mr. Ayodele also told the commission that nine transfers were made from the dollar account and he has all the transfer details with him. This also prompted lead Counsel Bensouda to apply for the GTBank account details, cheque withdrawal details and deposit of the dollar currency sales catalogued in bundle to be admitted and mark as exhibits.
The witness said he has the statements of both the dollar and dalasi accounts from 2nd November 2015 until the day the accounts were frozen.
The GTBank boss explained in detail that Tony Ghattas made withdrawal of 122, 31500 CFA, 64,800 dollars and 19, 863 Euros on numerous occasions from transfers in the APAM dalasi and dollar account.
He also explained to the Commission how huge amount of foreign currencies were transferred to Senegal and Eco Bank Gambia Limited from the dalasi account on different dates in 2016, and on 22nd October, 2015, 600, 000 dalasi was transferred from the APAM account to Kanilai Family Farm account.
Mr. Ayodele also told the Commission that on 12th January, 2016, a cash withdrawal of 5 million,  dalasi was made by one Alpha Jallow but not reason was given for the withdrawal and on 4th February, 2016 another D1, 921,783 was withdrawn from GTBank into one of the Office of the President Central Bank accounts.
He said adduced that the amount outstanding in the dalasi account is now about 26, 000 dalasi, saying an amount of D3, 6605 was also transferred to Toni Ghatta’s account.
The APAM dollar account statement and letter for the transfer, dated November 2nd, 2015 were tendered and admitted as exhibits.

by Lamarana S Jallow -Daily Observer
August 16th, 2017