By Fatou Sillah
Sergeant Adama Jagne of the Mechanical Service Agency in Kotu appeared before the National Assembly Special Select Committee to give testimony on the sale and disposal of assets belonging to former President Yahya Jammeh.
Sergeant Jagne stated that he opposed the sale of armored vehicles to civilians, citing concerns over potential risks to public safety. He emphasized that such sales could have unintended and dangerous consequences, including the possibility that these vehicles might be used against those who originally approved their disposal.
“The civilian who bought that armored car will not use it, but the one he would sell it to tomorrow might be your enemy. That is why I did not agree for it to be sold to a civilian, but I do not have any power over it,” Sergeant Jagne told the committee.
He stated that he raised the matter with Saidybah, who responded that the Janneh Commission had the authority to decide and that he should not concern himself further.
When questioned about the number of armored vehicles, he estimated there were five or six but said he could not recall the exact figure.
He further testified that Karabolie, the auctioneer, had visited the Mechanical Service Agency (MSA) with Njie and Muhammed Jah prior to the auction to inspect buses stored there.
“Before Yahya Jammeh’s caravan was there, VIP 1 was the plate number, the black one that Yahya Jammeh was using. We did not start the auction at that time; they came and said they wanted to look at the buses. I went with them, and we entered the bus, and we were around, and then they left,” he explained.
He stated that after they left, he went to Njie’s office to ask if they intended to keep the vehicle. Njie replied in the affirmative, explaining that the Janneh Commission had instructed them to sell it.
He further explained that he later found the vehicle key inside the car and chose to hide it, noting that it was a VIP bus and there was no issue with selling it.
“We said auction, but we should keep it for state use, and he said he has orders from the Janneh Commission to sell all Jammeh vehicles, including the government vehicles, including the Janneh Commission vehicles and the government, and I told him that you are doing your evaluation, you are not done, and then you are bringing people, and he said that is his job and I should not tell him,” he added.
He testified that he retained the keys until his departure. On one occasion, Hamidou Jah, CEO of Jah Oil, arrived at his residence with two associates and an ash-colored V8 Nissan, claiming they were responsible for bringing the armored bus and required the key.
He stated that he accompanied them to Kotu, where they met with Jah Oil’s mechanics. When he inquired about the purpose of the key, one of his captains reprimanded him and questioned why he had kept it. He said he subsequently handed the key over to Jah Oil and left the scene.
He further testified that Hamidou Jah had brought other armored vehicles, noting that no bidding process had taken place when Jah acquired them.
He emphasized that armored vehicles should not be sold to civilians due to the inherent security risks.
“Selling armored cars to civilians means you are selling your own life,” he said.