A World Bank Banjul Financed WAAPP Office Burnt To Ashes; 15Computers Stolen; Archives And Storerooms Raked To The Ground!!

According to the Point Newspaper publicationhttp://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/fresh-charges-for-former-geapp-coordinator  “Tijan Sosseh, who until his arrest was the coordination of the West Africa Agriculture Productivity Project (WAAPP), now faces new charges which include economic crime and negligence of official duty, which he had denied.”

“State prosecutors accused Sheikh Tijan Sosseh in count one that, while employed as the project coordinator of the GEAPP, he failed and or omitted to fully apply the Euro 5.3 million grant from the World Bank, leaving unspent the sum of $76,489.20 which omission was detrimental to the economy of The Gambia, and the welfare of the Gambian people,” the Point further reported.

Count two, the paper went on “stated that while employed in the public service of The Gambia as GEAPP coordinator, Sosseh neglected to effectively supervise the construction and rehabilitation of the Seed Multiplication Center at Chamen in The Gambia.”

According to the Point “Sheikh Tijan Sosseh was further accused in count three that, while employed as the GEAPP coordinator, he recklessly paid D15,895,125.25 to the general procurement service in spite of the shoddy construction and the rehabilitation works at Chamen Seed Multiplication Centre, and thereby caused economic loses to The Gambia, that is, the Ministry of Agriculture and the GEAPP.”

Sheikh Tijan’s case was before the Special Criminal Court. The resigned judge Justice Emmanuel Nkea was overseeing his case. His Attorneys Antouman Gaye and Lamin Camara were able to secure him bail. He was supposed to post a bond of D20 million dalasi in order to be released.

Now that Justice Nkea is gone, Tijan Sosseh's  case, including the other piles of cases sitting before the Special Criminal Court have been placed on hold until the appointment of a new judge to replace Nkea. Conspiracy theories suggest that Jallow Kanilai might be behind the arson attack. The name of Co President General Saul Badjie also emerged during our investigations as a potential accomplish.

Security analysts are of the view that the arson was a calculated move to further throw Mr. Sossesh under the bus by his accusers. “When we say his accusers, we mean Yahya Jammeh. This is a case Yahya Jammeh VS Sheikh Tijan Sosseh. Jammeh ordered for his arrest and prosecution. In the absence of paper trail, it would be hard for Mr. Sosseh to vindicate himself. The project expenses and other paperwork documents are contained in those stolen computers and the burnt archives. This is a complete disaster,” said one analyst.

The police visited the scene of the arson, but up till today no credible arrest has been made. “I am sure the World Bank including the other donor partners would be shocked to learn that the project that they financed has been set on fire by unknown arsonists. A responsible government would have summoned the press and explain what transpired, but the story is being downplayed by the regime,” said another analyst.

A Freedom Newspaper source visited the burnt offices of WAAPP and this is what he had to say: “Something is happening at the WAPP office. 15 computers stolen and archives and store rooms burnt to ashes. Please find out more on this. The place has been completely gutted.”

source: http://www.freedomnewspaper.com/Homepage/tabid/36/newsid367/9587/A-World-Bank-Banjul-Financed-WAAPP-Office-Burnt-To-Ashes-15-Computers-Stolen-Archives-And-Storerooms-Raked-To-The-Ground-/Default.aspx