Assistant Secretary at Janneh Commission Addresses Vehicle Purchases by Team Members

Kebba Bojang, Assistant Secretary at the Janneh Commission

By Fatou Sillah

Kebba Bojang, Assistant Secretary at the Janneh Commission, appeared on Tuesday before the National Assembly Select Committee, where he testified about irregularities in the sale of vehicles belonging to former President Yahya Jammeh.

Bojang confirmed that some members of the auction team responsible for disposing of the vehicles also participated as buyers. He noted, however, that there was no formal policy barring team members from bidding.

“For me, certainly not. I do not make a single purchase, but I’m not sure about my team. I cannot remember whether any member of my team purchased anything for a third party,” Bojang said.

During questioning, Counsel Dibba asked Bojang about Mr. Famara Saidybah, then head of vehicle control.

“You also know one Mr. Famara Saidybah, don’t you? Counsel Dibba asked?

The witness testified that he was familiar with one Mr. Saidybah, head of vehicle control, and believed he may have purchased vehicles during the auctions. He explained that he had seen Saidybah’s name on the list of buyers but could not recall the exact details. Counsel Dibba then informed him that Mr. Saidybah had bought three vehicles.

Referring to a report, Counsel Dibba asked the witness about the purchase of a Bedford vehicle by Famara Saidybah. When pressed on whether he specifically remembered Mr. Saidybah purchasing the vehicle, the witness admitted he was uncertain.

The report indicated that the vehicle was valued at D5,000 but sold for D3,000. Counsel Dibba, however, pointed out that the vehicle had in fact been valued at half a million dalasi. The witness expressed shock at this revelation.

Counsel Dibba suggested that the figure might have been a typographical error, as the report also listed D5,000 as the reserve price. The witness agreed, stating that he believed it was indeed a typographical mistake.

Counsel Dibba noted that while a typographical error might be plausible, omitting two zeros would constitute recklessness, given the substantial difference between D5,000 and half a million. He highlighted that the report indicates a value of D5,000, yet only D3,000 was paid, and the purchaser was an insider—raising concerns about the transaction’s integrity. The witness agreed that, on the face of it, something appeared amiss.

Counsel Dibba further suggested the possibility that the intended figure might have been D50,000; however, even at that value, the property would still have been significantly undervalued.

“We are making the assumption here that the valuer added two zeros; that is a very difficult mistake for a valuer, a valuer who lives and breathes numbers,” he explained.

The witness added, “I cannot make a valid argument here; that is what is indicative on the report here, so my honest opinion is, if it was valued at 50,000, I did not see the rationale why it was sold, or we have it as indicated on our report here as 5000. There must be another explanation for this.”

Another team member named in the transactions was Ansumana Kebbeh, who reportedly purchased vehicles during the auctions, often at or below the reserve price. Kebbeh reportedly bought a Hyundai Terankan MK77 for D10,000, which was half of its reserve price, and a Land Rover NK30 for D10,000, also below its designated reserve.