By Yankuba Jallow
Chairperson of the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, Jainaba Bah, on Friday told former Brikama Area Council officials that it is not sufficient for witnesses to say they were uninformed or unaware of issues that occurred during their tenure.
“It is not enough to say ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I was not informed.’ You were in the office and you were supposed to know,” Chairperson Bah said during the public hearing attended by former Chairman Sheriffo Sonko and former CEO Modou Jonga, now Chief Executive Officer of Banjul City Council.
Her statement followed repeated denials of knowledge or involvement by both Sonko and Jonga, who were being questioned about financial discrepancies, auction sales, and administrative irregularities at Brikama Area Council during their tenure.
The lead questioning throughout the day was done by Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez, who challenged the witnesses on procurement practices and oversight failures under their leadership.
Gomez began by interrogating Sheriffo Sonko about a vehicle auction involving former protocol officer Lamin Kambi. Sonko denied authorizing the sale. “I didn’t ask them to sell the car. It is not true,” he said.
When confronted with minutes showing that the vehicle was allocated to Kambi, Sonko replied: “I didn’t sign the minutes.” On whether Kambi was allowed to buy the vehicle while still an active staff member, Sonko said: “I didn’t know that he bought the vehicle.”
Asked if he was aware that no valuer was involved in the auction, Sonko replied, “I was not informed.”
Lead Counsel Gomez pressed him further. “Were you aware that the procurement unit of the council did not participate in this transaction?” Sonko said, “I don’t know.”
The questioning then turned to an auction involving a Toyota Hilux sold to one Momodou Ceesay, the former driver of the Chairman. Ceesay purchased the vehicle without a valuation, and the payment was never received by the Council.
Jonga, who served as CEO at the time, said: “There was no documentation with regard to the sale of the vehicle.” He acknowledged that the vehicle was not assessed by a valuer and that no records of the sale could be found in the Council’s registry.
Sonko denied instructing that the vehicle be sold. “I did not give any instruction for the vehicle to be sold,” he said. “I was informed that the vehicle was grounded and the mechanic suggested that it was to be auctioned.”
Gomez challenged Sonko: “Is it proper for the Chairman to act on an instruction from a mechanic?” Sonko replied, “I said the matter was not brought to me. If it was brought to me, I would not act on the instruction of a mechanic.”
When confronted with a document authored by Momodou Ceesay requesting to buy the vehicle, Sonko said: “This is the first time I am seeing this document. This was not brought to my attention.”
Gomez asked: “You are Chairman of the Council and vehicles are sold without your knowledge?” Sonko replied, “Yes.”
Regarding a D50,000 payment made by Jonga to one Mustapha Badjie as refund for a vehicle that was later found to be missing, Jonga said: “I took the decision. It was my responsibility and I did not want to pass the liability to the Council.”
Gomez asked whether the CEO had the authority to make such refunds. Jonga replied: “Yes, I made the decision in good faith.” Gomez countered, “You are paying public funds out of sympathy?”
Jonga admitted he made the payment “without recourse to the Finance Director or the Internal Auditor,” and also without seeking the approval of the Council.
Gomez then put to Jonga that the council failed to maintain proper records and inventory of its assets. Jonga conceded: “There were gaps in documentation.”
The hearing further revealed that staff members, including Lamin Kambi and Momodou Ceesay, received allocations for vehicles while still in active service, contrary to procurement regulations.
Sonko attempted to distance himself from responsibility, frequently saying he was “not informed” or had “no knowledge” of decisions made.
It was at this point that Chairperson Bah addressed both men directly. “It is not enough to say ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I was not informed.’ You were in the office and you were supposed to know,” she said, her voice firm.
The inquiry, established by the President, continues to probe alleged financial mismanagement and irregular procurement practices across local government councils. The Commission is expected to summon more witnesses in the coming days as it expands its investigation into questionable auction sales and missing public assets.