By: Kebba Ansu
Lawyer Ousainu Darboe, leader of opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) has clarified matters surrounding a UDP pick-up vehicle that was impounded by officials of the Gambia Police Force for allegedly carrying suspected cannabis.
Over the weekend the Gambia Police Force issued a statement announcing the impounding of a vehicle belonging to the UDP, alleging that after a search was conducted evidences of cannabis were found in the vehicle been driven by one Yuspha Jambang, a mechanic residing at Sukuta.
“We want to say that the UDP has always been against criminality in this country and more particularly use of substances that are harmful to individuals. In my career as a lawyer I have refused to defend anybody for drug cases and this is to show our revulsion for drugs and drugs uses,” Darboe affirmed his position on drugs.
He added: “If someone uses our vehicle without our knowledge and you want to use that on UDP, I think that will be the most outrageous, very ingenious, tactics one can used in this political season.
Lawyer Darboe went on disclosing that three months back he had received warnings that Ebrima Dibba, Momodou Sabally, Karafa Sonko, Honorable Sulayman Saho, Hon. YaKumba Jaiteh and himself should be very careful where they packed their vehicles, noting that they were warned to take extra care even if they visit car wash.
“We were warned because the scheme now is to plant incriminating materials on us. The scheme is to silence Sabally, Saho and Yakumba and to disqualify me,” Darboe adduced.
UDP Leader continued that the alleged vehicle was sent to the garage of one Buba Darboe of Sukuta for maintenance while the vehicle in question was removed from the garage of Buba Darboe without his consent.
“We understand that in the early hours of Saturday someone who apparently works at Mr. Darboe’s garage whether he is an apprentice or not took one of our vehicles from the garage, for what purpose we did not know.
“We understand that he came across a check-point and did not have a driving license and as a result he felt panic and decided to revise but was apprehended,” Darboe explained.
He added: “At the point of apprehension there was no search on the vehicle, he (driver) was only asked to disembarked from the vehicle and put in a police vehicle. The Vehicle was then driven by Police to Bundung Station where the driver insisted that he was never search and is not in possession of any drugs.”
According to him, a search was conducted later on Saturday in the presence of NDLEA officials but yet no drugs were found in the vehicle, adding that after another thorough search seven seeds of cannabis were found at the back of the vehicle contrary to reports that three joints of cannabis were found in the vehicle.
Darboe revealed that at the time of the incident the UDP mechanic was not aware of when the vehicle was taken out of the garage, noting that another key different from the keys of the vehicle in question was used to ignite the vehicle.
He called on all member of the UDP to be vigilant especially those in possession of party vehicles and motorcycles, observing that as the nation enters into another election year bad cops may do everything possible to implant illegal substances in their vehicles.
He said the Party has engaged its lawyers to dive into the issue diligently, noting that no amount of conspiracy will derail the activities of the United Democratic Party towards the December 2021 election.