By Kebba AF Touray
Sergeant Adama Jagne has confirmed to the Special Select Committee that he was authorized to cannibalize some government vehicles, which were earmarked for auction by the late Secretary General, Dawda Fadera. He made this confirmation on Thursday, 9 October 2025, during his reappearance before the committee investigating the disposal and sale of assets identified by the Janneh Commission as properties of former President Yahya AJJ Jammeh.
“For that of cannibalization I did that, but for that of forcefully removing Siaka Jammeh I did not do that, because I did not have such powers. That is false,” Jagne told the committee.
He confirmed that his superior, Nfamara Saidy, the Vehicle Controller at State House, and the late Secretary General Dawda Fadera, were both aware of the cannibalization of the vehicles. He explained that he cannibalized some of the vehicles earmarked for auction because there was no vehicle available for use at the time.
He said he consulted and informed both late Dawda Fadera and Nfamara Saidy Bah, adding that the duo had consented to the idea. “They told me that that is a good move, you can do that,” Jagne said.
He further described the process: “So, when I took some vehicle from those auctioned government vehicles, I cannibalized by taking parts from one and putting it into another vehicle to make it roadworthy, and the rest I put it back.”
Counsel Dibba put it to him that, according to evidence, Saidybah claimed he was not aware of the cannibalization. Sergeant Jagne “Debunked saying that’s false.”
Dibba also asked about claims that Jagne forcefully took over the MSA in Kotu. Jagne responded: “I don’t have that power as a Corporal when there were Senior officers.” He reiterated that he was moved to the MSA in Kotu at the behest of the late SG Fadera.
“Who authorized the cannibalization?” Dibba asked.
“I was authorized by late Dawda Fadera and Nfamara Saidybah,” Jagne replied.
Dibba asked: “How were you authorized, was it verbal or written?”
“For Fadera it was physically notified,” Jagne explained.
Jagne alleged that late Fadera initially called him to go to MSA, but later contradicted himself, claiming he went to MSA on his own accord.
When pressed about interactions with Saidybah at the MSA, Jagne initially said it was a personal matter, but recounted: “When Saidybah came to the MSA, he engaged me to help allocate one state vehicle to him.”
“You are asking a state official to allocate a state vehicle to you, and that cannot be a personal matter,” Dibba responded.
Dibba further confronted him: “So that was a lie. You misled the committee. Hold on. I am serious. You misled the committee, because that was your first statement. This was the first time you’ve been caught giving contradictory illustrations of that type. And I would like to question you one more time and give you the benefit of doubt. Because you seem to be insisting that you were saying the same thing.”
He cautioned: “I would also want you to know that contempt is very serious. Once we cite you for contempt right now, you will vacate MSA. You will no longer be the ‘Boss’ of MSA. You will give us your uniform. You will hand back your uniform to the army. Investigations will begin about whether in fact you indeed misled the committee or not, and you will be prosecuted. That’s how serious it is. It’s very, very serious.”
Continuing his testimony, Jagne said that when late Fadera called him that night: “I had to sit down and meet with him,” and he discussed with Fadera how they were faring at the MSA.
He explained that he told Fadera they were constrained, adding: “feeding was a problem for them at the time,” and Fadera called a man and, on the phone, told him he would send some officers.
Jagne added: “I met with a Lebanese guy, who was supposed to give me some cash.”
Dibba interjected: “Was he (Lebanese) buying a car?”
“No,” Jagne replied, “he was asked to give the money to someone who I later met with at a hospital, and did so.”
