Gambia: Court orders for arrest of ex- officials of National Youth Council

Fabakary Kalleh (L) look forward to 'cleaning up mess' at National Youth Council amid reports on financial embezzlement (Photo credit: M.E.Njie/NaYCONF/Bansang)

The Magistrates Court in Banjul, The Gambia on Tuesday issued a bench warrant ordering the police to arrest two former staff of the National Youth Council (NYC), who are said to be on the run.

On March 12, 2013, police prosecutors slapped Raymond Gibba and Abdou Salam Jammeh with a criminal charge of economic crime, in absentia.

Corporal Badjie (3470), prosecuting, confirmed the accused persons absconding.

He filed an application under pursuant of Section 1 to Section 8 of the Criminal Procedure Code Cap 11:01 Volume III - for the court to issue bench warrants for the arrest of the two by the International Police Agency, Interpol.

Acting Principal Magistrate Dawda Jallow, presiding, granted the application and ordered for the duo’s arrest.

Gibba and Jammeh, who were conspicuously absent in court, are charged under the Economic Crime (specified) Offences Act.

The police accuse them of intentionally mismanaging the funds of the NYC between 2007 and 2009, an act they claim “shows to be detrimental to the economy of The Gambia”.

In January, The Gambia’s National Assembly ordered the police in Banjul to investigate alleged financial mismanagement atthe NYC, whose financial report was rejected by the Assembly’s joint Public Accounts and Public Enterprises committees (PAC and PEC).

In recent years, the NYC has undergonetremendous reforms according to Youth and Sports Minister Alieu K. Jammeh, butthe Council’s Chairperson Fabakary Kalleh says there is still “a mess tocleanup”. 

Written by Modou S. Joof

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