By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT
Popular Gambian Politician Momodou Sabally cross-carpeted from the biggest opposition, the United Democratic Party (UDP) to President Adama Barrow’s National People’s Party (NPP) raising serious questions around the possibility of him working for the Government after he was banned by the Janneh Commission. President Barrow has managed to convert a significant number of political actors from his former Party with the latest acquisition coming earlier this week on 20th December 2023, however, Sabally was banned by the Janneh Commission established by the Barrow Government.
This publication looks at the Janneh Commission’s findings and highlights some of the indictments stated in the report relating to Mr Momodou Sabally.
Mr Sabally rose to prominence under the government of ex-President Yahya Jammeh where he was known for his caustic statement condemning the UDP as a Mandinka Party. He was a key member of ex-President Jammeh’s Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) and occupied the position of Secretary General and Minister for Presidential Affairs in 2013. However, the previous government terminated his services in 2014 according to the Janneh Commission Report.
After ex-President Jammeh fled into exile to Equatorial Guinea Mr Sabally first appeared as a supporter of the current government which was mainly dominated by the UDP back in 2017. However, after the Government’s White Paper on the Janneh Commission confirmed banning Mr Sabally for life, he defected to the UDP. At this point, the newly formed NPP by current President Barrow was at loggerheads with the UDP which was being torn apart by the public spats between UDP party leader Ousainu Darboe and President Barrow.
The split was confirmed after President Barrow decided to fire his party leader and “Political Godfather” Ousainu Darboe from his position of Vice President in late 2018. But by that time the Government’s White Paper on the Janneh Commission had already banned Mr Momodou Sabally “from holding public office for the remainder of his life. He is also banned from holding any director positions in any State-Owned Enterprises in The Gambia for ten (10) years”.
When he joined the UDP, Mr Sabally branded himself as a Commando for Ousainu Darboe, however, he was also at loggerheads with Lawyer Amie Bensouda who was the lead counsel for the Janneh Commission and the mother of the current Kanifing Municipal Council, Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda.
Given that President Barrow’s government banned Mr Sabally from holding public office, which was enforced by the Independent Electoral Commission rejecting Mr Sabally’s nomination to run as a Parliamentarian for Busumbala in 2022 and the Police arresting Sabally twice for statements made, it’s a dramatic turn of events to see Mr Sabally join the NPP.
Janneh Commission Findings
The Janneh Commission was established to inquire “into the financial and other activities of public bodies, enterprises, and offices as regards their dealings with former President Jammeh, his family members and close associates, his financial and business affairs, and the assets accumulated by them during his tenure in office”. The former President marched into the State House back in 1994 where he forcefully took over power from the first President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara with virtually no money to his name. Fast forward 22 years of dictatorship and the former President went into exile with cars, money and many assets while he still maintained vast amounts of properties including lands, islands and others to his name. This legacy of corruption was unearthed by the Janneh Commission.
According to the Commission’s findings Mr Sabally “was signatory to various public accounts and was involved in the withdrawal of large sums of public funds, some of which were not accounted for, on the instructions of former President Jammeh”. In addition, “the Commission found that Mr Momodou Sabally and former President Jammeh are jointly and severally liable for the said amounts of money misappropriated by former President Jammeh”. To date the government is trying to recover the funds through the sale of the former President’s assets.
“The Government notes that Mr Momodou Sabally’s many involvements in the financial transactions of former President Jammeh, which was not part of his official duties, especially as Secretary General, demonstrate the enthusiasm with which he facilitated these transactions. His conduct fell far short of the standard of professional conduct expected of the Head of the Civil Service at the time”.
However, these observations by the Janneh Commission and White Paper less than five years ago have not discouraged President Barrow from giving a rousing reception to Mr Sabally in Cabinet where he paraded him as his latest acquisition.
Below are some of the findings of the Janneh Commission
- Payments Authorised by Mr Momodou Sabally alone
During his tenure as Secretary General Mr Sabally “authorized withdrawals from the International Gateway Account”. However, “the instructions were not on Office of the President letterhead nor were they co-signed by the co-signatory”. Mr Sabally testified before the Janneh Commission and stated that “these withdrawals were made at the instance of Ex-President Jammeh during a period when the second signatory to the account was indisposed”. He added that “he would normally regularize the transactions when the second signatory is available. He insisted that the transactions were made as a matter of urgency”.
Below are observations from the Janneh Commission relating to Mr Momodou Sabally alone. There are many other unlawful transactions processed by Mr Sabally with other officials.
- D1 Million to Makam Bah – The D1 Million was received by Makam Bah on the same date. Makam Bah also received USD70,000 based on similar instructions.
- D10 Million was paid to Alagie Ndow on the instructions of Momodou Sabally on the 11th of April 2014.
- D20 Million – Sanna Jarju, former Chief of Protocol received the sum of D20 million from CBG based on instructions given to the Governor by Mr Momodou Sabally. D10 Million was received on the 20th of April 2014 and subsequently, another D10 Million was received on the 24th of April 2014. The Minute dated 24th April 2014 from the Governor, Amadou Colley, authorizing CBG staff to effect payment indicates that Mr Momodou Sabally gave the authorization over a phone call.
- USD250,000 – Momodou Sabally authorized payment to Sanna Jarju on the 3rd of June 2014.
- USD750,000 – Buba I. Demba received USD750,000 on behalf of Momodou Sabally on the 20th of May 2014. Mr. Demba testified that after he received the money from CBG, he handed it over to Mr. Sabally in his office.
- Payments Authorised by ex-President Jammeh and Momodou Sabally
Series of payments were authorised by Mr Momodou Sabally and ex-President Jammeh. The ex-President “was not a signatory to the International Gateway Account” however this did not stop the Central Bank of the Gambia from approving his payments. Below are three payments authorised unlawfully.
- USD305,661.18 was transferred from the account to Gambia International Airlines‟ Account with Zenith Bank (Gambia) based on the instructions of Ex-president Jammeh and Momodou Sabally.
- USD1 Million cash – Ex-President Jammeh and Momodou Sabally authorized the withdrawal of USD1 million cash, the funds were to be handed to Momodou Sabally but he delegated the responsibility to Sana Jarju, former Chief of Protocol.
- USD33,103.04 – Sum was transferred to PD IC Publications Ltd for the purchase of 350 copies of the New African Magazine featuring Ex-president Jammeh.
- Payments authorized by Momodou Sabally and Noah Touray
Mr Noah Touray was the former Secretary to Cabinet acting on behalf of Secretary General Momodou Sabally who wrote to the Ministry of Finance to open up the International Gateway Account which the two aforementioned were signatories to. However, information requested for the operationalisation of the account such as the full address of the account holders and specimen cards was never submitted for the account.
“Monies were paid into the account by TELL INTERNATIONAL Inc. a company registered in Geneva, Switzerland that had been awarded an exclusive contract on the directive of the ex-President to manage the International Telecommunication Gateway into the country. Before this international gateway account was opened by the ex-president, all fees realized from the international gateway were paid to GAMTEL as part of its revenue”.
“The account was thereafter operated from and controlled by the Ex-President. Cash withdrawals from the account were made by Secretary General Mr. Momodou Sabally except for two transactions, one dated 8th October 2013 which he co-signed with Mr. Noah Touray for the sum of USD610,000. Two other transactions for the sums of USD1 Million and GBP33,103.44 which he co-signed with ex-President Jammeh. It is to be noted that Ex-President Jammeh was not a signatory to this account”.
- Euros 610,000 – The purpose of the withdrawal was not indicated in the letter. However, a Minute written by SG Momodou Sabally to the Ex-President indicates that he proposed that funds from the Gateway account should be used to purchase rams for Tobaski, The Minute stated that “the amount will be reimbursed to the account once the ram sale is over”. Mr. Sabally testified that that at the time he left Office, the funds had not been repaid.
- The USD610,000 was received by Mohamadou Batata S. Juwara split into USD310,000 and Euros 220,000 and he signed for it. Mr. Juwara informed the Commission that he handed over the money to Mr. Sabally. He said that Mr Sabally asked him to take some of the money and change it to CFA for Ex-President Jammeh which was subsequently deposited with the Orderlies stationed at the residence of the President at State House. Mr Juwara was asked what happened to the Euros and the balance, he responded that he left that with Mr Sabally. Mr Sabally has not accounted for this Euros 220,000. However, the Commission is of the view that since from the minute the ex-President was aware of the amount then the evidence that it was paid to him is credible. He should be liable for it.
- D1.4 Million to Sindola Safari Lodge’s account – Momodou Sabally and Noah Touray authorized the transfer of D1.4 Million to Sindola Safari Lodge’s account. The payments were made on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture as part of expenses incurred during the Roots Festival in May 201429. Sindola Lodge belongs to Ex-president Jammeh and his family members.
- USD100,000 cash was received by Noah Touray on the 24th of June 201430. The sum of GBP80,000 was transferred to PD IC Publications in June 2014.