Africa-Press – Gambia. Nandu Rajwani, Chief Executive Officer of EMK Stores Ltd., on Tuesday, July 15, presented payment records to the Local Government Commission of Inquiry relating to a controversial land transaction with the Banjul City Council (BCC).
The Commission had previously requested Rajwani to submit receipts and proof of payments connected to the acquisition of BCC land. During an earlier appearance, Rajwani testified that he paid D15 million to one Chabell Elhajj for land located behind the National Assembly. He added that following his relocation to a different site on Bond Road, he paid an additional D5 million, bringing the total payment to D20 million.
On Tuesday, Rajwani submitted the following payment evidence:
A Zenith Bank cheque dated February 10, 2021, for D500,000
A cheque for D230,000 dated January 26, 2021
A Trust Bank open cheque dated January 27, 2021, for D500,000
Proof of a D1 million payment to Chabell Elhajj, accompanied by an acknowledgment letter
A receipt for a D5 million payment
A Mega Bank open cheque dated May 20, 2019, for D2.5 million
Two cheques, each dated May 28, 2019, for D2.5 million
Rajwani told the Commission that some documents are still with his lawyer, who is currently outside the country, but he promised to submit the remaining evidence upon the lawyer’s return.
He also submitted a series of documents related to the land deal, including:
A letter from EMK Stores addressed to Ida D. Drammeh & Associates regarding the BCC property
A BCC letter to EMK Stores dated August 19, 2020, concerning the lease agreement and relocation to Bond Road, with an attached sketch plan
A lease agreement between BCC and EMK Stores
A BCC letter dated November 9, 2020, to Ida Drammeh & Associates regarding the allocation of land at Bond Road
An application for land from BCC addressed to C Consultant Ltd
A letter dated September 28, 2020, from BCC to Ida Drammeh & Associates concerning allocation of a portion of the Tenbi wetland
A letter from the Department of Lands and Surveys to the EMK CEO concerning Tenbi land allocation
A lease agreement from BCC for the Bond Road property
Rajwani informed the commission that at the outset of the transaction, Chabel was accompanied by his cousin.
Counsel Gomez pointed out that the lease document issued to Rajwani by the Banjul City Council (BCC) indicated a payment of D2 million for the leased land. He questioned why Rajwani did not object to this figure, given his claim that he had paid D20 million for the property.
In response, Rajwani admitted that he did not contest the stated amount, adding that he had already endured significant hardship as a result of the land transaction.“There was a lot of push and pull. I suffered for this land. If they put the D20 million on the lease document it is going to blow up because they chop all the money so I don’t think they can put the D20 Million,” he said.
He stated that the individuals who benefited from the funds were Chabell, Chabell’s cousin, and Mayor Lowe.
He was presented with the lease document but explained that he cannot read. He added that whenever he receives any documents, he hands them over to his lawyer for review and processing.“I don’t go through all this paperwork. But I know they put D2 million there,” he said.
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