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Breaking News:VP Njie Saidy In A D14Million Dalasis Palace Renovation Corruption Scandal!

Gambia's Vice President Isatou Njie Saidy has been implicated in a Multi Million Dalasis scandal, which is currently a subject of police probe, authoritative sources hinted today. The country's first female Vice President was alleged to have conspired with her local staff to dupe the state, as they could not justify a renovation expenditure in the sum of 14 Million Dalasi, which according to State House sources were shared among contractors, the VP herself and some protocol staffers. Already, the Gambian police have arrested and detained Baboucarr Jobarteh, the VP'S Chief Protocol officer in connection with the said high profile graft ever hit the country's Presidency. State House insiders say the money spent to foot the Vice President's residence renovation was far more than what was spent on the Presidential palace, which was said to be in the tune of 5 Million Dalasis.

The detained Protocol officer was alleged to have implicated the Vice President in his earlier statement to the relevant law enforcement officers handling the case. Mr.Jobarteh's revelations against the VP were being down played by those entrusted with the case, perhaps fearing possible reprisal from the power that be, sources hinted. The Freedom Newspaper investigations reveal that the VP was privy of the renovation transactions, which was contracted to a local company very close to the Presidency. It's gathered that both the VP and her protocol staff could not furnish relevant information regarding the said unaccountable funds targeted for her residence's renovation.

The VP was said to have shifted the blame on Pui Jobarteh and others for failing to ensure that the funds were properly accounted for. Even though she had denied knowledge about the whereabouts of the said funds, State House sources said the VP'S story was doubted in some quarters within the Presidency. According to these well placed sources who wished to remain anonymous, VP Njie Saidy allegedly received kickbacks from parties involved in the said deal. Pui Jorbarteh they said was being used as a "scape goat" but there was more to the graft story.

Inviting the Vice President for questioning at this hour, said our source would be very unlikely as according to sources officers investigating the case "are afraid to lose their jobs in the event the case backfires on them."Taking Mr.Jobarteh to court is also a subject of debate at this hour, as sources cited the implications of such a move. They said Jobarteh was poised to spill the beans, in the event the state decides to drag him to court leaving the VP behind.

The Freedom Newspaper has been investigating the graft story against the Vice President for a while now. Preliminary leads gathered so far indicates that the paper work that was earlier presented by the VP'S office to justify the said 14 Million Dalasis renovation project was believed to be cooked up by the relevant authorities assigned to oversee the renovation.

In a span of three years, the Vice President has been engulfed in numerous corruption scandals. First, was the land graping scandal which was a subject of discussion across the country. The VP owns close to 15 properties within the Greater Banjul Area and each of these properties cost nothing less than D1Million Dalasis.

An insider at the Vice President's office told the Freedom Newspaper that the VP was not in talking terms with the President when the D14Million Dalasis renovation scandal first reached President Jammeh. "What's amazing is that the amount of money spent on the VP'S residence is far more than what was spent on the State House renovation. The President's reaction was that of a shock and disbelief. It would take a while before the President would let go this case. It's just a matter of time for him to act. He is openly complaining about the case."said a state house insider who spoke to this paper.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports say the sacked Secretary General Mamburay Njie has been named in another graft scandal. A concerned Gambian who telephoned the Freedom Newspaper claimed that Mamubray and one Njogou Bah, (Not the former Gambian Ambassador to France) but a Deputy Permanent Secretary at the President's Office allegedly duped some foreign investors who wanted to invest in the Gambia. The investors who were said to be involved in real estate projects had a bad experienced in the Gambia, as Mamburay handed them to Njogu Bah who allegedly extorted several thousands of dollars from them. The caller claimed that Njogu received $100,000 dollars from the investors and another $200,000 dollars, which according to the caller was received on behalf of the government by the Deputy PS. The caller says one of the parties affected in the said deal was on the verge of coming in the open to spill the beans.

The allegations brought against Njogu Bah, the former APRC mobilizer in Atlanta Georgia, is being treated as grapevine issue since Mr.Bah himself was unavailable to shed light on the said allegations. We hope Mr.Bah will clear the air in the interest of accountability. This paper is not by any means instituating that the caller's allegations "are true" but it's crucially important for Mr.Bah to give his side of the story. As a public official, he is not immune from public scrutiny. That's why we thought it necessary to publish what the caller alleges. If Bah was not in the public domain, we wouldn't have his time. We hope he understands where we are driving at.

In a separate Gambian news, a score of police officers were arrested in the Gambia, as they were accused of conspiring with some people to cut trees at President Jammeh's farm in Siffoe. One of the arrested police officers was identified as Bubacarr Bah, an elder brother to Ex Lieutenant Samba Baldeh. The men are currently being interrogated at the NIA offices for their alleged involvement in the said deforestation of the President's orchard. Leaks from the NIA said the arrested police officers have denied the allegations in their statements to the Agency.

The editor can be reached by email at the following addresses:editor@freedomnewspaper.com or panderry_mbai@yahoo.com If you know that it's happening or is about to happen, please contact us. The Freedom Newspaper is your leading and most authoritative source of news. At Freedom, we have the required professionals to serve you round the clock. Stay tuned.

Posted on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 (Archive on Tuesday, December 12, 2006)
Posted by PNMBAI Contributed by PNMBAI

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