8 MIILION, 6 HOUSES IN 18 MONTHS

EX IGP BADJIE IN FRESH TROUBLES

BADJIE NAMED IN AN INTERNATIONAL DRUG CARTEL RING!!!

Interior Minister Sonko Implicated In A Bio- Metric Kickback Scandal

By Staff Reporter Fatou Barry, Banjul

National Intelligence Agency (NIA), preliminary findings revealed that in a span of 18 months, the erstwhile Inspector General of police Essa Badjie was able to  amass six landed properties, and bank savings in the tune of D8 Million dalasis, the Freedom Newspaper can report.

The Agency said it is investigating Mr. Badjie’s source of wealth, and that the Standard Chartered Bank, where Mr. Badjie had an account have been notified about the investigations. Mr. Badjie, fondly called here Jesus, is the wealthiest IGP, ever in the history of  Gambia’s police force.

A highly placed source familiar with the ongoing investigations—involving Essa Badjie said the former police chief  has earned himself a record as he spend his eighteen months in office working for himself, and not the state. The source said Mr. Badjie had built a luxurious two story building at his Batokunku residence, in Kombo North District of the Western Region of the Gambia.

According to sources, Mr. Badjie has been linked to regional, and international drug cartel ring, which he ( Badjie) was accused of  adding , and abetting during his tenure as Inspector General of police.  Badjie was acting in concert with a famous drug lord Sillahba Samateh, who is wanted by the Netherlands anti narcotic force for crimes he allegedly committed in Holland, said our sources.

The former police chief  has denied the charges, but the NIA said it had gathered an overwhelming evidence to warrant for Badjie’s possible prosecution, and conviction.

Besides, the drug trafficking accusations, the NIA said Mr. Badjie has also been accused of misrepresenting the President Yahya Jammeh. Badjie was said to have made public speeches recently—in which he erroneously misrepresented the President, sources said. Though, the NIA said details of the misrepresentation case would be released once they are done with their investigations.

The Agency has also asked the Standard Chartered Bank to freeze Mr. Badjie’s bank account—pending the completion of the investigations. Investigators said at least D8 Million dalasis was found in that account bearing the name of Essa Badjie.

Investigators are expressing concern over the source of Mr. Badjie’s wealth—given the fact that his 18 month salary could not have earned him such a healthy savings. They said Badjie must have been living beyond his means. 

                                Sonko Indicted!!

Meanwhile, the Freedom Newspaper has gathered that Gambia's Interior Minister Ousman Sonko, has been named in a major kickback financial scandal.  According to sources in the heart of the Jammeh administration, Mr. Sonko had a share in the newly set up Bio-Metric Identification System that  was contracted to a Maryland IT specialist. Sources, who are very conversant with the deal said Sonko had been allocated a set fee (percentage) from the proceeds derived from the Bio-Metric system.

Our sources said the NIA is privy to this deal, but are not keen at inviting Sonko for questioning. It is not clear why the Agency is unwilling to probe into this major corruption racketeering involving Minister Sonko.

A prospective investor who wished not to be named said when he approached Mr. Sonko on a certain security project similar to the bio-metric program system, the first thing the Minister asked him was kickback. He said Sonko disqualified him because of his unwillingness to bribe him.

The investor said the President Yahya Jammeh has a big heart for the country, but corrupt officials such as Sonko are undermining the system. The investor said it is only in The Gambia that a sitting Minister can have a share in a given business project under his ministry, and yet he still  have a job. He calls for an inquiry to be launched into Sonko’s official activities in the interest of accountability and probity.