By Lamin Njie
The Gambia government has set out measures it has and wishes to take against 31
people who assisted former president Yahya Jammeh in his financial crimes.
The Gambia government on Friday released the Janneh Commission’s report, a 1600-page document that shows how former President Yahya Jammeh pilfered billions of dalasis in state funds during his 22 years rule.
A government white paper which was also released on Friday set down measures the Barrow administration has or wishes to take against 31 people who have been found to have assisted Jammeh in committing the crime.
The 31 people are; General Sulayman Badjie, former vice president Isatou Njie-Saidy, businessman Amadou Samba, Tarek K Musa, Mohamed Bazzi, Fadi Mazegi, Nicolai Buzlainu & Dracos Buzlainu, Illija Reymond & Martin Keller, Ali Youseff Sharara, Ansumana Jammeh, Worreh Njie Ceesay, Tony Ghattas, Sirra Wally Ndow-Njie, Amadou Colley, Basiru Njie, Oumie Savage Samba, Njogu Bah, Momodou Sabally, Feryale Diab Ghanem, Momodou Lamin Gibba, Momodou OS Badjie, Edward Graham, Abdoulie Cham, Manlafy Jarjue, Ismaila Kaba Sambou, Momodou Aki Bayo, Ebou Jallow, Edward Singhatey and Yankuba Touray.
General Sulayman Badjie’s name came up first after Jammeh’s in the white paper with
the Gambia government describing him as ‘perhaps the most active and trusted associate of former president Yahya Jammeh.’
“He played a central role in cash withdrawals from the Central Bank of The Gambia, and accompanied former President Jammeh into exile,” the government said of General Badjie who the Janneh Commission found to have misappropriated or diverted 1.3 billion dalasis.
“Consequently, the government has decided that General Sulayman Badjie is not fit to hold public office and should be banned, and General Sulayman Badjie is hereby banned from holding public office for the remainder of his life. Criminal proceedings for theft, corruption and economic crimes will also be institutted against him.”
A number of people who made the list have been banned from holding public office for life.
Former secretaries general Njogu Bah and Momodou Sabally, Sirra Wally Ndow-Njie, Amadou Colley, Basiru Njie, Oumie Samba Savage have all been handed lifetime bans over their roles in the millions of dalasis that have gone missing.
Former vice president Isatou Njie Saidy received a ban of five years.
The Gambia government has also warned at least 11 people over their petty roles in the financial wrongdoings.
They are Noah Touray, Mambury Njie, Ousman Jobarteh, Ousman Jammeh, Isatou Auber, Ismaila Sanyang, Yam B Keita, Lamin Nyabally, Dr Kalilou Bayo, Abdoulie M Sallah, Sulayman Samba and Momodou L Bah.
