Africa-Press – Gambia. Former presidential affairs minister Momodou Sabally has acknowledged the receipt of $2000 from Dr. Abubakary Jawara but Sabally said this was in return of a favour he did for the GACH boss.
Sabally and Dr. Jawara met in court for the first time on Friday in a day-long gruelling proceedings around Dr. Jawara’s defamation suit against the former secretary general and head of the civil service.
The trial began sometime last year.
Led in cross-examination by defense attorney Ida Drammeh, Sabally told the Banjul High Court annex that without his intercession, former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh would’ve grabbed GACH’s property.
“I did something for him because the President (Yahya Jammeh) wanted to seize his property and I prevailed on him,” Mr. Sabally stated when it was put to him that the GACH CEO once gave him $2000 when he approached him for support to publish his book.
“So, you thought he should be obliged to help you,” counsel Drammeh asked.
“I didn’t do that for money,” replied Sabally.
ILL-INTENTION
Leading Mr. Sabally through cross-examination, counsel Drammeh asserted that the “false” publications that Sabally made against her client were borne out of malice.
Referring Mr. Sabally to one of his articles about the GACH CEO in which, he said, Dr. Jawara should be charged with economic crimes for prospecting black sand in Sanyang.
“In exhibit PF10, you said the plaintiff should be charged with economic crimes as the former government used to,” counsel Drammeh tried to refresh Mr. Sabally’s memory.
“When you said he should be charged in exhibit PF10, you said he committed a crime for black sand mining,” she then quizzed.
“I was speaking from social advocate point of view,” replied the former head of the civil service.
“You even advised the lawyers as to what crime he should be charged with,” the counsel said.
When Sabally responded affirmatively to her query that he termed himself as champion of youths, counsel Drammeh said: “I want to put it to you that the statements you put were made with malicious intent.”
“No. They were made in public interest,” replied Mr. Sabally.
New Love Affair With Yellow
Earlier on in the cross-examination, counsel Drammeh asked Mr. Sabally as to whether it was correct that he never wore yellow outfits during his time in the Jammeh government.
“Is it correct that you joined the UDP recently, “asked counsel Drammeh.
“I joined the UDP two years ago,” responded Sabally.
“And before you joined the UDP, you were with APRC,” counsel Drammeh further asked.
“I served as Secretary General on appointment,” Mr. Sabally agreed.
“And APRC was the party of former President Jammeh,” stated counsel Drammeh.
“Yes,” answered Sabally.
“Is it correct that you never wrote any critical article against Jammeh,” the counsel enquired.
“I was a columnist and I did criticize government policies,” Sabally disagreed.
Meanwhile, Sabally said he knew about some of Dr. Jawara’s businesses when asked by the counsel whether he knew her client’s business details before the defamation case.
On his publications, Sabally acknowledged under cross-examination that he had a very wide social media following by the Gambian standard.
“When you are writing, you are writing to get media attention from your followers,” asked counsel Drammeh.
“I say the truth and defend the public interest, regardless of who,” replied Sabally.
“Your these principles only came into existence only when you stopped serving Yahya Jammeh,” counsel Drammeh asserted.
“That’s not correct,” Sabally disagreed.
Asked whether he was aware that several mining licences have been issued in the previous regime, Mr. Sabally said he knew of only Gamico.
Meanwhile, Sabally said he could not remember the appointment of Dr. Jawara as consul during the Jammeh dispensation.
Sabally meantime said under cross-examination that he wasn’t too sure that he’s an intelligent man.
“But you said you are a prominent politician,” stated counsel Drammeh.
“What made you prominent,” attorney Drammeh asked.
“I am always on the frontline, sensitizing people about their civic duties,” Sabally replied.
“You said things with the belief that what you said will be acted upon” counsel Drammeh enquired.
“It’s for political consciousness,” explained Sabally.
“Is it correct that a responsible person will verify facts before publication,” counsel Drammeh demanded.
“It depends on the operational aspect,” Sabally argued.
“You did not take responsibility to check that any statement you made is not false,”counsel Drammeh countered.
“That’s not right,” retorted Sabally.
“So, you see yourself as not having responsibility,” argued counsel Drammeh.
“Out of principles and conviction, I made sure whatever I published were verified,” Sabally contended.
When asked who determines his “status” as “the most high-profile” social media and political commentator, Sabally said the public was the judge.
“Your public,” lawyer Drammeh stated.
“Yes,” concurred Sabally.
Sabally meanwhile said he received a letter from Dr. Jawara’s lawyer through the social media before it was physically delivered to him and that he consequently replied to it, saying he would never send an apology to Dr. Jawara as demanded in that letter sent by lawyer Mene.
He also admitted saying that he would never apologize for billion years for publishing articles deemed by Dr. Jawara as defamatory.
“And you dared let him go to court,” asked counsel Drammeh.
“I said let him go to court,” said Sabally.
“Is it true that you said you are not, in a billion years, apologizing,” counsel Drammeh quizzed Sabally.
BANTA KEITA
The former presidential adviser responded in the negative when quizzed whether he knew Banta Keita.
Asked whether it’s correct that his post, linking the GACH CEO to drugs could go viral.
“It depends on the content. If the content is appealing, it can go viral,” Sabally replied.
To Be Continued…
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