By Landing Ceesay
Lance Corporal Sanna Fadera, the alleged ringleader in the treason trial before Justice B.V.P. Mahoney of the High Court of the Gambia, has denied ever planning to overthrow President Adama Barrow’s government in December 2022.
Lance Corporal Fadera, in his testimony, denied any plans to overthrow the government. He made this statement in response to a question from his lawyer, L.S. Camara.
“Did you at any point in your military career agree with anyone to overthrow the government of the Gambia,” Counsel L.S. Camara asked.
“No, it was never my intention, and I never planned it,” Lance Corporal Fadera answered.
Lance Corporal Fadera told the court that there was never a point in his military career where he tried to incite anyone to act mutinously, as alleged in the charges.
Reacting to the testimony of Mustapha Jabbie, the fourth prosecution witness, who alleged that he drove Sanna Fadera to the bush to take a bath with a concoction from a marabout, Lance Corporal Fadera denied ever meeting Jabbie or driving with him to the bush.
“PW4 (Mustapha Jabbie) told the court that he met you and the 5th accused (Fabakary Jawara), and you told him that you wanted to overthrow President Barrow’s government. What did you say to this allegation?” Counsel L.S. Camara asked Fadera.
“No, I never met Mustapha Jabbie or the fifth accused person, nor did I discuss with anyone regarding a coup,” Lance Corporal Fadera responded.
Lance Corporal Fadera told the court that he never went to a marabout with Mustapha Jabbie (PW4). In response to Mustapha Jabbie’s testimony that he introduced Sanna Fadera to Saikou Gassama. Jabbie claimed that this was so that Fadera could meet with a marabout in Mauritania. However, Fadera has denied this, stating that Jabbie did not introduce him to Gassama and never connected him to any marabout in Mauritania.
Lance Corporal Fadera confirmed knowing Saikou Gassama, but he told the court nothing had transpired between him and Saikou Gassama in connection to the charges against him.
“Mustapha Jabbie (PW4) told this honorable court that he drove you to Kafuta on your way to a meeting together with the third accused,” Counsel L.S. Camara asked.
“No, he (Mustapha Jabbie) never drove me to Kafuta for any alleged meeting,” Lance Corporal Fadera told the court.
Lance Corporal Fadera further told the court that he never attended any alleged meeting in Kafuta with the 3rd accused, 2nd accused, and Karamo Jatta (PW7) in connection with the alleged coup. Lance Corporal Fadera testified that he never met Saikou Gassama and Mustapha Jabbi together, as alleged by Mustapha Jabbi. However, he did meet Mustapha Jabbi at the State Central Prison, mile 2. They were not far from each other, but Fadera did not know why Jabbi was detained at the time. It was only when they were brought before the court that Fadera learned the reason for Jabbi’s detention.
“Have you met Saikou Gassama before anywhere?” Counsel L.S. Camara asked.
“I did not meet him in person. He was passing with his vehicle, and I saw someone waving at me. That was in Brikama,” Lance Corporal Fadera responded.
On the testimony of the eighth prosecution witness (name withheld), Lance Corporal Fadera said throughout his military career, he only met PW8 when he was at the University of the Gambia.
On PW8’s statement that he (Sanna) went to his office sometime in January 2021, Lance Corporal Fadera denied that and told the court that he never met PW8 at his office.
“PW8 said during your interaction with him. You told him, don’t worry, I will become the head of state. When that happens, I will make you Director of Intelligence. What did you say to that allegation?” Counsel L.S. Camara asked.
“I never met him, and I never sounded my opinion to him that I will one day be a head of state, and I will consider him for Director of Intelligence,” Fadera responded.
Lance Corporal Fadera told the court that he never had any phone conversation with PW8, Captain Mamat Jobe, Major Alhagie Njie or Major Lamin Njie informing them that everything about the alleged coup is intact and there is no way they should be worried, as alleged by PW8.
Lance Corporal Fadera testified that he never informed anyone that the weapons were intact, and the information was concealed by Captain Baldeh as alleged.
Lance Corporal Fadera told the court that he had never met Major Landing Tamba at Army headquarters and that he never discussed anything with him.
On his relationship with the second accused person (Gibril Darboe), Lance Corporal Fadera told the court that they were together at the Gambia Navy.
He said Gibril Darboe is his senior man in the Army.
When asked whether he interacts with Gibril Darboe after work, Lance Corporal Fadera said he doesn’t interact with him after the closing hour.
“I never interacted with him after work, or discussed anything with him regarding the alleged coup,” he told the court.
Lance Corporal Fadera told the court that he never had a meeting with Gibril Darboe or discussed anything with him regarding the alleged coup.
It is Lance Corporal Fadera’s testimony that he has never been to Kafuta Village or anywhere else to have a meeting with anyone in connection with the charges against him.
Lance Corporal Fadera testified that he last saw the third accused person, Ebrima Sannoh, in 2014. He is not in the same battalion as Sannoh, and he is aware that Sannoh is on study leave at the University of the Gambia.
Fadera explained that when a member of the military is on study leave, they are exempt from all military activities. Therefore, Sannoh is exempt from all military activities since he is on study leave.
Fadera also said that he does not know where Sannoh lives and that he has never discussed anything with him in connection with the charges against them.
The case was adjourned to today, for continuation.