The police have released all of the Brikama area councilors on self-bail this evening, except for the Councilor of Brufut Ward, Hon. Abdoulie Jammeh, who remains in arrest at the Anti-crime Unit in Banjulinding.
On Tuesday, the police confirmed the arrest of several Brikama Area Councillors in relation to the BAC imbroglio involving the CEO and the Finance Director. According to the police, the arrests were based on a preliminary investigation suggesting unlawful attempts to stop the suspended CEO, Modou Jonga, from using his official vehicle with one of the Councilors seizing the key and deflating the vehicle assigned to the CEO.
The police also hinted at the councilors having committed offenses such as “conspiracy to commit a felony” and “malicious injury to property.”
The Brikama Area Council issued a statement earlier today arguing that the central government, through its line ministry, had no business overseeing an autonomous local body. The line ministry also had no business handling the local authority’s financial affairs, as stated in Section 12 of the Local Government Finance and Audit Act 2004, which states that councils must have financial autonomy.
BAC has voted on a resolution on October 30, 2023, proposing the expulsion of its CEO and Director of Finance based on more than simply charges of corruption but also on substantial evidence. Their suggestion was made in accordance with Section 45 of the Local Government Act of 2002, which states that they recommend to the Local Government Service Commission that it take appropriate action against the CEO and the Director of Finance.
