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Gambia: Babylon's Fake Alkalo Confesses!
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The Daily Observer (Banjul)
23 April 2008
Posted to the web 23 April 2008
Sanna Jawara & Amadou Jallow
As proceedings into the ongoing Babylon attack case continue before Magistrate EF M'Bai of Brikama Magistrates Court, more startling revelations continued to stormed the court.
Lamin Jarju, the fake Alkalo of Babylon village in Kombo North, yesterday confessed that he is not the Alkalo of Babylon village but he has the stamp of an Alkalo, he do give lands to people at free of charge and do collect rates and paid to the Area Council.
Mr Lamin Jarju made this revelations whilst responding to cross examination questions posed to him by Antouman Gaye, lead defence counsel at the trial.
Antouman Gaye asked Lamin Jarju to read loud in the open court a document bearing an Alkalo stamp date 25th January 2007 purportedly giving ownership of a piece of land to somebody. Mr Lamin Jarju complied and accepted that he issued the document with his stamp, but was quick to say, he inherited Babylon from his ancestors, associating himself with the graves in the bush as his ancestors.
Still responding to the defence counsel's questions, Lamin Jarju admitted that Eric Tunde Janneh, former chief of Kombo North sent him to the Campama Medical Centre but denied that he was sent to Mile 2 by the said former head chief adding, "I was once taken to the NIA for questions. I am not the biggest trouble maker in the whole of The Gambia".
Mr Jarju further admitted been once a member of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) but denied been dismissed due to his troublesome nature.
Lamin Jarju also denied that he and his body guards are operating like 'a state in state' at Babylon by demolishing leased landed properties, houses, cashew trees, fences and other valuable properties of people such as Mr Abdou Jobe, former managing director of NAWEC, Amadou Taal, former Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Local Government and lands, Mohamed Sawaneh among others who had their lands leased by the government of The Gambia.
Mr Jarjue further denied knowing one Sheikh Sarr alias Tony Blair but later admitted knowing him as his friend. He said he knew names such as Nuha Saidykhan, Demba Fatty, Masanneh Ceesay, Seedy Fofana, Hena, Lamin Badji among others whom he described as either his associates or relations.
When put to him that at the last sitting he told the court that he identified Yaya Suwareh and Karafa Jawara, among the last six accused arrested, Lamin Jarjue denied identifying Yaya Suwareh but admitted identifying Karafa Jawara who is said to be in Brufut village Kombo North at the time of the Babylon incident.
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ASP Camara, police prosecutor at that juncture applied to add additional two counts on the charge sheet making it a total of 5 counts. The application was granted by Senior Magistrate EF MB'ai. These latest counts included count 4, criminal trespass and count 5, willful damage to property all contrary to the Criminal Code Cap 10 volume III laws of The Gambia.
However, when the additional charges were read to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty saying Babylon did not exist and the place is their farm land.
The case continues today.
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