By Rohey Jadama
The case involving Mr. Sheikh Tijan Sosseh, the former Coordinator of
the West African Agricultural Productivity Project (WAAPP), before the
Special Criminal Division of the High Court in Banjul, could not proceed
Yesterday, Wednesday, January 28, 2015 due to the illness of the trial
Judge, Justice Emmanuel Amadi.
A court official told reporters that the judge was not feeling well
and was given Excuse on Duty (ED).
The trial of Mr. Sosseh started in July 2013 and has now dragged on
for 1 year, 6 months. The prosecution had called a total of 6
witnesses to prove their case. It has suffered numerous delays or
setbacks, thus leading both the trial judge and the defence team to
conclude that the prosecution is dragging the case with the judge even
threatening to close the prosecution’s case if their seventh and last
witness failed to appear in court after many non-appearances
before.
As a consequence, the prosecution failed to appear and bring their
last witness which prompted the court to close their case and to ask
the defence to start theirs.
The defence team opted to file a “no case to answer” submission.
The case was adjourned to Monday, 2nd of February, 2015 for defence to proceed.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sosseh is alleged on Count One that while he was
employed as the Project Coordinator of the GEAPP he has failed and or
omitted to fully apply a Euro 5.3 million grant from the World Bank
and leaving unspent $76,489.20, which omission was detrimental to the
economy of The Gambia and the welfare of the Gambian people.
Count two states that while employed in the public service of The
Gambia as GEAPP Coordinator, Mr. Sosseh neglected to effectively
supervise the construction and rehabilitation of the Seed
Multiplication Centre at Chamen in the Gambia.
As for Count Three, Mr. Sosseh is accused that while he was employed
as the GEAPP Coordinator, he recklessly paid D15,895,125.25 to the
general procurement service inspite of the shoddy construction and
the rehabilitation works at Chamen Seed Multiplication Centre and
thereby caused an economic loss to The Gambia through the Ministry of
Agriculture and the GEAPP.
