Posted by In its sitting of December 13, the Janneh Commission continued to hear the testimony of Mr. Ayodele Bolaji, managing director of Guaranty Trust Bank, in connection with bank accounts opened in the names of the Jammeh Foundation for Peace (JFP), President’s Empowerment for Girls Education Project (PEGEP) and Kanilai Family Farms (KFF).
Mr. Bolaji disclosed that the signatories to the PEGEP were Alieu Njie, Dominic Jammeh and Ramou Cole-Ceesay, adding that the first transaction on the dalasi account took place on 28 July, 2002 while the last transaction was on 12 September, 2017. He said that the last debit before it was frozen was on 26 May, 2017, noting that there was an inflow of D166, 666.60 and that the balance was D797, 211.41.
On the Dollar account, he revealed that the first payment into the dollar account was made on 8 April, 2010, and that included in that particular transaction was a cheque from the Taiwanese Embassy. He added that there was a balance of $293.19, and that the last transaction was made on 3rd June, 2014.
The account opening information, statements of accounts and other related documents from these accounts were at this oint tendered and admitted as exhibits. However, Mr. Bolaji reiterated that the correct figure for the balance on JFP current account was D2, 848.37 and not D332, 274.78.
On APRC Fund Raising Committee account, Mr. Bolaji said that it was opened on 9 February, 2004 and the signatories were Abdou Badjie, Fatou Mbaye and Abdoulie John. He added that there was another fund raising account linked to the first one with the same signatories, noting that of the three APRC accounts, one was an investment account. He said the balance on the first dalasi account was D112, 282.38 while the last transaction took place on 2 May, 2017 but was frozen. He said that the source of funds for the account was donations.
Still testifying, Mr. Bolaji further intimated that on 9 September, 2015, there was a transfer of D255, 000.00 while the sum of D150, 000 was paid for APRC gala dinner. He however disclosed that there was no payment from the former government on the other Dalasi account.
The APRC Youth Account, the GTB MD continued, was opened on 21 September, 2016 and the signatories were Mayor Yankuba Colley, Babucarr Sowe, Abdou Badjie and Pa Sulay Faye. The first transaction on this account, according to him, was on 22 September, 2017 and there was a balance of D1, 968.31 and that donations constituted the source of funds for this account as well.
On the July 22nd Anniversary Marathon Account, he stated that the signatories were General Yankuba Drammeh, Lamin Jassey, Mamud Jawla and General Musa Savage. He added that there was a withdrawal of D20,000 by General Musa Savage which was also a donation from government. He said the balance was D957, 385.93.
Mr. Bolaji further indicated that the Kanilai Family Farm Ram Sale Account was opened on the 18th of September, 2015 and the signatories were Isatou Auba and Yam Bamba Njie-Keita who, he added, were on 21 October, 2015 removed and replaced by General Sulayman Badjie and Mamburay Njie. The last transaction amounting to D15, 833.38, according to him, was made on 25 November, 2016, while the balance was D2, 552,536.87 before it was frozen.
Mr. Bolaji further testified that the amount of D100, 000 was converted into dollars and the total deposit was D8, 564,570.26. He further stated that on 16 October, 2017, Isatou Auba withdrew D2, 000,000 which was signed by herself and Yam Bamba Njie-Keita.
The GT Bank boss further revealed that on 6 August, 2009 another Dalasi account called Kanilai Investment was opened with one Pa Ousman Bojang as the signatory. He stated that the first transaction on this account was made on 29 December, 2011 and that a withdrawal of D450, 000 was made while the last transaction was on 26 May, 2017, with a dividend payment of D1, 742,541.97, leaving a balance of D1, 756,216.16.
The senior banker informed the Commission that the first transaction on the dollar account was for the amount of $42,000 on 6 August, 2009 from Green Impact. He said the last transaction on the account was for the amount of $2,069,646.72 on 21st July, 2016. Documents relating to the accounts were tendered and admitted as exhibits.
At this point Commissioner Saine put it to the witness that the bank accepted a high ranking military officer to be a signatory to a corporate account without having a role in the company and asked if this was appropriate. In response, Mr. Bolaji said this was sometimes acceptable.
The commission will today December 14 embark on a site visit.