Posted by 
By Mariama Jobarteh
The former Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Omar A. Jallow popularly known as OJ Jallow has said that he did not grant an interview to the Gambian media outlet Kerr Fatou, on the Janneh Commission Appeal Case as published in their website.
Hon. Jallow sent a rejoinder on Tuesday to one of his supporters and a member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Kebba Nanko, who is based in the US to clarify issues surrounding the publication of the news article by Kerr Fatou in the said appeal case. He clarified that he was interviewed by West Coast Radio and a journalist form The Point newspaper.
It could be recalled that sometime in July 2018, OJ sued Kerr Fatou to court, accusing the news medium of tarnishing his image by publishing a report, claiming that he allegedly connived with a businessman to illegally sell fertilizer meant for disposal.
Below we reproduce the full text of the public notice from Kebba Nanko, sent to this medium.
Kerr Fatou didn’t have an Exclusive interview with Hon. OJ, the article was false and misleading.
Hon. OJ did not have an exclusive interview with Kerr Fatou. It could be recalled that Kerr Fatou and OJ are still having a pending case at the high court due to their malicious and defamatory reporting on the fertilizer scandal at the Ministry of Agriculture. Unless that is settled, Hon. OJ has no intention to have an interview with Kerr Fatou. Even though the Ministry of Justice investigation vindicated Hon OJ, Kerr Fatou still refuses to retract their malicious article.
On the subject of the appeal court ruling against the Janneh Commission Report Hon. OJ had an interview with West Coast Radio and The Point newspaper only.
“Kebba am trying you to rectify the story published on Kerr Fatou. I never had any interview with Kerr Fatou as I am presently going to court with them. I took them to court as they published a serious malicious, defamatory, unfounded, and untruthful story about me that I gave a contract to a businessman to sell fertilizer for personal financial gains. This case in on at the High Court. The Journalist who came to interview me is from the Point Newspaper and he never told me that he was going to publish it on the Kerr Fatou. I am therefore informing all people that I did not have an interview with Kerr Fatou and the journalist never informed me that he will publish it on Kerr Fatou. Therefore, let everybody know that I never had an interview with Kerr Fatou. Thanks its OJ” Hon Omar Jallow
Therefore, it will be right for Kerr Fatou to correct their article and offer an apology for putting words into OJ’s mouth that they had an exclusive interview with him on the 16th of June 2020. Although Kerr Fatou has deleted their article, it is not enough, they should be bold enough to retract it and apologies, and hence the story was very misleading and unethical.
Hon. OJ is a strong believer in democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights, and a strong advocate for a free press and would do everything to ensure there is an enabling environment for Gambian journalists, but what Kerr Fatou did was undoubtedly defamatory and should not be left unchallenged.
I urge Kerr Fatou to correct it and apologies to OJ for their followers and the ethics of journalism, although I didn’t expect such a professional act from Kerr Fatou. If they refuse to retract and apologies I would not be surprised. It appeared that Kerr Fatou is desperately trying to smear uncle OJ and we will never relent to fight back.
I am a strong supporter of Hon Omar Jallow, I strongly believe he possesses all the natural attributes of a good politician. His qualities are based on his experiences, intelligence, integrity, and great instincts. The best quality of a politician is honesty, God-fearing, and loving. Hon Omar Jallow is indeed trustworthy and reliable.
He has been tested so many times, but he always displays sincerity, bluntness, and practices what he preaches. He makes decisions and accepts responsibility for his actions and his words. He shows his character when he is dealing with his people. He is surely somebody that people can rely upon. OJ loves his people with all his heart, will, mind and soul; striving to help them as a truly responsible politician, therefore I will do all that I can to defend him whether he is alive or died.
Kebba Nanko, Strong Supporter of Hon OJ.