By Makutu Manneh
Samba M. K. Leigh, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Janjanbureh Area Council (JAC), told Commissioners of the Local Government Commission of Inquiry that he allowed former Chairperson Ebrima Janko Sanneh, to conduct procurement for political purposes.
Mr. Leigh made this remark when questioned by Deputy Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez about a three-hundred thousand Dalasi amount given to Chairperson Sanneh. He informed the Council that the money was given to the Chairperson to purchase rice and oil.
“Why would the Chairperson do the procurement, and why would he be given money to supply food items. Is he a contractor or supplier?” Counsel Gomez asked.
Witness Leigh replied thus: “Well I just want our communities to know about him because you know as politicians it is good.”
He also told the Commission that the Chairperson is neither a contractor nor a supplier.
At this juncture, the Local Government Commission of Inquiry Chairperson Jainaba Bah, chipped in to express her disappointment to Leigh’s statement.
“It is very disappointing to hear a civil servant giving the type of evidence you have just stated. It is unfortunate for you to say you were giving the Chairperson money for political reasons,” Commission Chairperson Bah said. She told him that the Chairperson was appointed by the people but that the management of the Council is under his control as CEO and was supposed to follow due process.
Counsel Gomez questioned the witness on how the money was approved and given to the Chairperson to purchase rice and oil, and he replied that the Councilors sat over it and agreed to buy the food items and give it to the communities. He said this was a decision among Councilors and said there was no resolution passed, and no minutes of the said meeting were taken.
Counsel Gomez told him that “this was a decision taken by you, the finance director and the Chairperson because it is the signature of the finance director and you which appears on the voucher.”
However, the witness argued that it was Council’s decision even though all the necessary steps were not taken and said the documents the Counsel is asking for, are not available. Later on, the witness agreed that it was not a Council decision but also, it was not formal.
The witness was confronted with another payment of twenty thousand Dalasi given to former Chairperson Ebrima Janko Sanneh with no supporting documents.
In his response, the witness said he does not recall such a payment.
Counsel Gomez asked him why he would be drawing Cheques for the Chairperson.
Mr. Leigh in his response to the above question said at the Council, people keep on claiming for night allowances and if he does not approve, they will create problems for him.
Counsel Gomez further told him that he is saying even though he knew the payments were not justifiable, he had to do so.
In his response, the witness said he was transferred to another Council because he was having unending problems with the former Chairperson, and said the former Chairman wanted to be signatory to the Council’s accounts to which he refused. Leigh said this matter went to the level of the National Assembly and the Ministry of Local Government and he believes that this was the reason why he was transferred. According to him, he does not know why the former Chairman wanted to be a signatory to Council’s accounts.
Counsel Gomez put to the witness that on 28th of May 2020, the Chairperson was to transport rice from Banjul to Janjanbureh and was paid fifty thousand Dalasi for this.
“Why would the Chairperson be conducting procurement,” Counsel Gomez asked and the witness replied: “That is not correct.”
Counsel Gomez told him that he knows that is not correct but why did he do it then. The witness replied that he accepts that they were doing procurement without a procurement officer.
When asked if his action was not seen as a conflict of interest, the witness replied in the positive.
“That is the height of your fraudulent activities,” Counsel told him. The witness replied: “Yes I agree,” and said the rice was a donation and the Chairperson was the one facilitating the movement of the rice from Banjul to Janjanbureh.
Counsel Gomez asked him why the Chairperson would be facilitating the movement of the rice, but the witness gave no response.
Counsel Gomez further asked the witness whether if he is authorizing payments without supporting documents, that will be valid, and he said no, it would not be valid.
Counsel Gomez informed him that there are evidences that he has approved payments without supporting documents.
Leigh said ‘yes’ he does and said that is because he hoped the individuals will bring their receipts.
“That is like putting the cart before the horse,” Counsel Gomez told him.
On 23rd December 2020 and on the 23rd of January 2021, the witness withdrew eighteen thousand Dalasi (D18,000). The witness also withdrew fifty-five thousand Dalasi (D55,000) from the Council’s accounts. The Commission also noted that on the same day, after withdrawing D18,000, the witness deposited thirteen thousand Dalasi (D13,000) ) in his personal account. The Commission also noted that on the 15th of December 2020, the witness withdrew twenty thousand Dalasi (D20,000) from Council’s accounts and on the same day, he deposited ten thousand Dalasi (D10,000) in his personal account.
“Can you tell us why you were withdrawing from the Council’s accounts and depositing in your own account?”
The witness denied depositing Council’s money into his personal accounts.
“For me, if I withdraw, I spend,” the witness said.
He was told by Lead Counsel Yaharr Cox that what is evident, is that he was withdrawing money from Council’s accounts and depositing in his personal accounts. The witness said the vouchers were available and when asked to produce them, he said: “I cannot find those vouchers now.”
Sitting continues.
