How sellers of Jammeh’s assets became buyers

At least eleven people who were directly involved in investigation, valuation and sales of  former President Yahya Jammeh’s vehicles ended up walking away from the auction with a significant number of those very cars. 

These were not random buyers, they were the same people entrusted to oversee the process, protect the public interest, and ensure transparency.

During his 22-year rule, Jammeh looted an estimated $362 million from the state, according to the Janneh Commission’s findings. The money was lavished on luxury items, including fleets of vehicles, aircraft, and prime real estate. 

The sale of his assets was meant to recover what the former president looted or at least a fraction of that sum for the state’s coffers. However, experts say many of the vehicles were sold for far less than their true market value.

A special select committee of the National Assembly is now probing the disposals and sales of Jammeh’s assets, following an investigation by The Republic published in April, which found that the recovery process was marred by corruption and  lack of transparency.

So far, only $23,716,725 has been recovered from the sale of 35 real estate properties, a vehicle garage, livestock, five aircraft, 458 vehicles, 197 tractors, shares in four companies, dividends from three companies, and valuable items seized from Jammeh’s Dunes Resort and Casino.

Kebba Bojang is a staff from the Ministry of Justice who was at the Janneh commission to assist the secretariat. He was involved in the sales of the tractors. From the list of buyers of ex-president Jammeh’s vehicles, Bojang bought a total of nine vehicles including ‘scrap’ for a total of D657,000. 

Ansumana Kebbeh, from the Office of the President, participated in the disposal of some of the vehicles. Kebbeh also bought from the same sales he was taking part in as a representative of the presidency. He also bought five vehicles and ‘two scraps’ for D90,000.

Adama Jagne is a soldier of the Gambia Armed Forces, who also served as the head of mechanic at the government’s car park in Kotu. Adama was part of the people who made the inventories of Jammeh’s vehicles. He bought a Mahindra for D35,000. 

Mustapha Abdourahman Jobe, an auctioneer, bought a Pajera for D25,000. His name is spelt as Mustapha A.R Jobe in the list of buyers published by the Ministry of Justice. 

Kara Abdoulie Jammeh, who was also an auctioneer at the sales of Jammeh’s vehicles, spent at least D68,000 on a scrap Toyota and Cruiser, 2 mixers, kitchen utensils, and 3 water pumps. 

A PIU officer DPS Alagie Jallow, who took part in the disposal of the vehicles, left with 1 Mercedes Benz costing D200,000. But his name is mentioned as Alagie M. Jallow on the buyer list. 

Amadou Secka, an accountant at the Janneh Commission, bought nine vehicles including containers for D235,000. However, his name is spelt in three different ways on the buyer list. Alhagie Admad Secka, Admat secka, and Hamet Secka. 

Eddi Joof, a staff of the Janneh Commission, whose name is spelt as Ebrima Joof, bought an empty scrap trailer for D10,000.

Musa Balla Jobe, an auctioneer for the commission, also purchased two vehicles and 9 core pile iron for D315,000. 

Nfamara Saidybah, head of the government vehicle control unit, who also took part in making the inventories of the vehicles, bought three vehicles for D98,000. 

The big buyers

The biggest buyers of former president Jammeh’s vehicles were not ordinary Gambians, instead, well connected car dealers, business owners and some government officials who bought in bulk. 

Hadim Gai is the founder and managing director of Gai Construction Company limited. His company was awarded a contract of D1.8billion for the Banjul project. From the auction, Hadim bought nine vehicles including tractors and other different items for D3,435,000. 

The biggest buyer from the sales on record was Saidou Jallow, who allegedly owns a vehicle garage on the Senegambia Strip. He bought 52 vehicles including scraps for a combined fee of D1,767,000. 

Jah Oil has purchased at least 43 items from the sales of Jammeh’s assets including vehicles and scraps for  D29,051,000. 

One Yahya Jallow bought 31 vehicles including scraps for an amount of D699,000.

Muntaga Sallah, a former permanent secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, who also worked as the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment, was also part of the big buyers of ex-president Jammeh’s vehicles. Sallah bought eight vehicles for a sum of D1,075,000.

Omar Jallow, whose identity is unclear, bought 23 vehicles including scraps for D2,431,000. 

Ebrima Jallow bought ten vehicles including scraps for D233,000.