Weapons are intact to carry out the coup – witness quotes coup leader

Weapons are intact to carry out the coup – witness quotes coup leader

Testifying further on Tuesday in the alleged coup attempt trial proceeding before the High Court of The Gambia, state witness Captain Mamad Jobe told the court that 1st accused and alleged coup leader Sanna Fadera told him that weapons were all intact to carry out the coup to oust President Adama Barrow.

The accused persons – Lance Corporal Sanna Fadera, Sergeant Gibril Darboe, Corporal Ebrima Sannoh, Corporal Omar Njie and Police Sub-inspector Fabakary Jawara – are standing trial on charges of treason, concealment of treason and incitement to mutiny.

Testifying further, Captain Mamad Jobe said: “He told me that from there [Jobe’s house] he would be going to Farafenni to meet Sergeant Komma and from there he would come back to my house. He said, ‘Oga, I am going’, and I told him, ‘Whatever happens keep me posted’.”

“The whole night I couldn’t sleep. When I woke up in the morning, knowing that national threat is before you, you have national obligation towards it, and according to the Gambia Armed Forces Act, if such is before you, you have to inform your superiors. So, I decided to call Major Lamin Njie. I told him this soldier came to me last night and this was what he told me; I am not a party to it,” he said.

The witness said he was told by Major Lamin Njie to ascertain the “info” pending Sanna Fadera’s visit to Farafenni, but he did not hear from Sanna until 7th December.

“When I called him on the 7th to confirm whether he was able to meet Sergeant Komma, he told me he did not but was able to communicate with him. On the 11th of December, I called Sergeant Komma to confirm his meeting with Sanna Fadera,” Jobe told the rapt court.

“Sergeant Komma told me he didn’t meet with Sanna Fadera but was able to communicate with him on phone. Sergeant Komma asked me about the issue. I told him Sanna came to my house and said he wanted to salvage the country; he wanted us to overthrow the government.

Sergeant Komma told me that wherever I saw Sanna I should stab him. “How many years of service and just one day someone wants to mess me up!’ he said. I told Sergeant Komma to have patience, stabbing him with a knife will be a case on top of a case.”

The witness testified further: “I told him I was working with a senior officer to ensure the situation was de-escalated. Sergeant Komma also advised me to take caution and I should get out of it completely. I told Sergeant Komma that this was a threat to national security and we should make sure we curb the threat.

“From there, I called Major Njie (alias Angola). I told him I had spoken to Sanna Fadera and I had also spoken to Sergeant Dawda Komma and they have had communication. I told him the threat was still hanging. Major Lamin Njie summoned the first Provost marshal, Major Alagie Njie.

“On the 12th of December, we assembled at Major Lamin Njie’s compound in Nema Su. I was the first to arrive, seconded by the Provost Marshall. The military intelligence officer who was supposed to come could not because he said he did not have fuel. When the subject matter started, a call was made to Captain Modou Wally and was told he must come because the subject matter was very important. Major Lamin Njie told him he would give him money to buy fuel.

“After sometime, Captain Modou Wally was also in. Now it was Major Lamin Njie, Major Modou Njie (Provost Marshall) and Captain Modou Wally and myself. We told the Provost marshal what transpired between me and Sanna at my house. From there, I was instructed to call him, Sanna. When I called him, the phone rang but he did not pick up the call.

“After few seconds, then Sanna Fadera called back and I was instructed by Major Lamin Njie to put it on loud speaker.”

Source: The Point

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