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EDITORIAL
Millions of dollars derived from a Nigerian oil gift, in 1996, reportedly went into the said above Bank account in Geneva, which was opened by the former military junta headed by Chairman Yahya Jammeh. The oil gift, was extended to the impoverished nation, by the late Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha. Past efforts made by Gambia's biggest opposition grouping, the United Democratic Party, for the President, to be investigated by Parliament for possible abuse of office and corruption failed, as the Ruling Party thought that, the opposition went too far by digging into Jammeh's life. Even though, there are sufficient evidence to suggest that President Jammeh, was involved in clandestine oil lifting in Nigeria and the subsequent transfer of such funds in the said above mentioned foreign bank account, the government of the day is still not keen at pursuing the missing millions "Abacha oil gift" meant for tiny Gambia.
It would be recalled that Chantrils SA, an oil dealer company, sued The Gambian government for breach of contract and loss of earnings in a London court. Chantrils was contracted by President Yahya Jammeh, to lift oil for his government in Nigeria, during the period in question. Latest reports suggested that The Gambian government lost the law suit, brought against them by the said company. It is not yet clear at this hour, if the Jammeh government had paid Chantrils, for the sum they claimed in their high profile suit. Several thousands of barrels of crude oil were processed and its proceeds later landed in a Swiss Foreign Account. This shows how selfish and self centred Jammeh is. Few people in his government were privy of the "Abacha oil gift" and up to the time of piecing this editorial together, the said account is said to be in the records of the Geneva Bank.
As we enter election year, it is imperative for the opposition exhaust local remedies by suing Jammeh to court to explain the whereabouts of the said funds, which could had been better used to salvage our poverty stricken nation. There is need to register a test case, even though our judiciary is under the control of Jammeh. If domestic remedies failed, the opposition can resort to international remedies. We should not allow the said "Abacha missing millions" to die down. Their are witnesses available, who can shed light on the said corruption scam against Jammeh.
Jammeh, was Abacha's boy, boy. Well placed sources close to Jammeh indicated that the President had received several millions of dollars from Abacha, prior to his death and the said monies never passed through the National Assembly. Our source further hinted that a prominent businessman, was busy criss crossing between Banjul and Lagos to execute Jammeh's errands. One Mr.Jawara, a former protocol officer at the office of the President in Banjul, was also said to be one of those who negotiated for the said oil lifting contract between The Gambian government and Chantrils Corporation. Our source further hinted that Jawara was compensated by Jammeh, who gave him some landed properties in The Gambia and a huge sum of money.The deal started to surface in the lime light, as the government reportedly tried to dupe the foreign oil company and a local business man in The Gambia. For some reasons, parties aggrieved by the government action, decided to spill the beans.
The London based Africa Confidential also broke the story and one of its Editors was on the BBC Focus on Africa, confirming the veracity of such an oil deal. While, working as a senior reporter at the Daily Observer, I covered the UDP Press conference, in which lawyer Ousainou Darboe, presented documents to journalists regarding the said oil scandal, against the Presidency. The said documents featured crude oil lifting transactions agreement, entered between The Gambian government and Chantrils-Glencore, which according to Darboe was a subject of litigation in the United Kingdom. In a press release, the government confirmed the said transactions, but claimed that the opposition exaggerated the sum involved in the said "Abacha oil deal."
Interestingly, there was no word on the government's statement indicating that the National Assembly or Cabinet were involved in the said oil lifting in Nigeria. This exposes the type person Jammeh is. He had criminal tendencies and had succeeded in robbing our nation in a span of eleven years. There are dozens of corruption scandals hanging on the head of Jammeh. If investigated by a credible enquiry, Gambians will be shocked about the way Jammeh, handles the Presidency. The Abacha oil, Obasanjo's oil gift, Mobutu's gold, Babanding Futanka Sissoho, affair and host of others are still fresh in the minds of Gambians.
No wonder, that The Gambia, is denied development by these greedy government led by Jammeh. Not long ago, President Obasanjo, of Nigeria, provided crude oil for The people of The Gambia, but monies derived from the said oil, went into the pockets of Jammeh. When the opposition UDP, raises the issue, shameless Jammeh, claimed that some of the proceeds realised from the said oil were deposited in a Central Bank account. He however, will not tell us the said account number and what development projects the funds were channelled to.
A follow up to Jammeh's claim, an insider at the Central Bank, told this Editor, who was in The Gambia, at the time that there was no such "Obasanjo oil bank account." The insider expresses surprise about the government's claims, insisting that the Central Bank account could be a ploy to deceive Gambians. "Perhaps, they opened the said account, at the state house and not here. There is no truth, in their statement. I challenge you to contact the governor and verify for your self."said the insider, who is a well trusted source. Since Jammeh, is not declaring the purported Central Bank oil account, we are challenging him to tell us who owned Swiss Bank account number: J36650-70? Unless, Jammeh, cleared the air, we will continue to conclude that he had hands in the said overseas account number. Our people are dying of hunger and malnutrition. Our country need the millions of dollars syphoned into the said account. No drugs in our health delivery system, no good pay for
civil servants, no good roads and no electricity. Shame to thief Jammeh. We are not moved by your so called riches. We can comfortably sleeps at night, but you cannot. You know what awaits you, as the system is crumbling. We shall see you off, on your way out to the state house. Your trial will be a grand trial and there is doubt in my mind that, god willing, we will cover your criminal proceedings, without having the fear of being killed by your hit squad. Just watch out.... Jammeh, your days are numbered. We rest our case......
The author is the former Secretary General of The Gambia press Union and also a former Voice of America radio Banjul Correspondent. Mr. M'Bai who now resides in the US State of North Carolina Raleigh was a leading political and crime reporter with the Point and Daily Observer newspapers respectively. He can be reached by email at the following addresses: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]
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