By Makutu Manneh
The Local Government Commission of Inquiry is awaiting evidence from Foday Danjo, the former chairman of the Basse Area Council, to justify the council’s payment of D60,000 annually for his apartment rent in Kombo.
The property, located in Abuko, was rented and furnished by the council for Danjo’s use.
When asked to explain the legal basis for the arrangement, Danjo said the rent was included in the council’s budget and had been approved by the general council. Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez then instructed him to identify the specific provision in the budget authorizing the payment. Danjo responded that he did not have the budget with him and was directed to locate it and present it to the commission, along with the minutes of the general council resolution approving the expense.
Danjo defended the arrangement, stating that he often spent a week or more in Kombo and would otherwise incur monthly rental expenses exceeding D5,000.
However, Counsel Gomez warned that failure to produce the budget would imply that the expense was not formally included in it.
When questioned about whether he also received night allowances while the apartment was rented for him, Danjo denied this, claiming he was only allocated fuel. Counsel Gomez countered that findings showed he was given night allowances for each trip to Kombo.
Gomez further stated that Danjo’s administration had agreed with the audit finding on the matter, which recommended the immediate cancellation of the rental. Danjo disputed this characterization, saying, “No, that is not how it goes. I told the management to stop it.”
Counsel Gomez concluded by noting that the cancellation came after an audit query, suggesting the rent was not budgeted for nor prescribed by law.
“We will wait for that because your administration agreed with the audit that the rent of an apartment for the chairman should be cancelled immediately as it is not prescribed in any law,” Counsel Gomez stated.