The Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council, Talib Ahmed Bensuda has disclosed illegal financial transactions of twelve million dalasis (D12million) masterminded by Sainabou Martin- Sonko, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KMC.
This development was disclosed to the press shortly after an emergency Council General Meeting following the resignation of Musa Bah, former Deputy Mayor of the municipality on 23rd July, 2021.
Adducing the saga to the press, Mayor Bensuda revealed that CEO Sainabou Martins Sonko and Director of Finance, Dr. Alieu Keita conspired to defraud the council to the tune of twelve million dalasis (D12million), revealing that CEO Sonko has used the funds to acquire a property that is strongly believed to be overvalued.
He said the CEO was able to do such illegal transactions by forging council’s documents and approvals to obtain a guarantee purportedly from KMC to secure twelve million Dalasis loan from the banks with the help of a co-signatory in the person of the financial director Dr. Alieu Keita.
“Through our swift intervention we were able to freeze the accounts in question and recover approximately D7.6million. Our swift actions and our zero tolerance to graft and corruption protected the public coffers of the council from what could have been serious financial losses” Talib Ahmed Bensuda revealed.
He added: “The actions of Mrs. Sonko are very serious and we believe they are criminal in nature ranging from fraud, tax evasion and theft. Mr. Sonko was confronted in a director’s meeting on 12th July, 2021, where she confessed to her actions and offered apologies to the management team of the council. Though she has since recounted her position we have proceeded to complete investigations and tabled the matter before the council.”
Mayor Bensuda further disclosed that the council has come up resolutions to solving the problem, hinting that it has requested the Local Government Service Commission to summarily dismiss CEO Sainabou Martins Sonko and Director of Finance from the services.
He added that KMC has also reported the matter to the Gambia Police Force for further investigation, adding that a decision has also been reached to put Mrs. Sonko and Director of Finance on an indefinite leave until the time when the matter is been solved.
“The actions of Mrs Sonko are quite disappointing; countless employees of council have equally expressed their great disappointment to her actions. This incident demonstrates for the needs for proper decentralization of staff disciplinary matters to local government authorities. The Council with the mandate of the people must have the ability to hold staff accountable for their actions,”
Bensuda continued to state that the ability to hire and fire staff is a fundamental function of the council to providing quality public services, while reassuring the public and staff of KMC that under his administration there will be zero tolerance for corruption.
“If you intend to use public office to enrich yourself, then KMC is not for you. We will pursue this process as we have done since June to ensure that justice prevails,” Mayor Bensuda summed.
“In our general council meeting we have discussed two updates regarding the Deputy Mayor, Pa Musa Bah who also doubles as the councillor of Latri Kunda Erinjang Ward. On Friday 23rd July, 2021, i received a letter dated 23rd of July, 2021, from the deputy mayor Mr. Musa Bah and his resignation is based on personal grounds and a copy of the letter is available to the press,” said Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensuda, Mayor of Kanifing Municipality.
“Last week Musa Bah suffers two personal family tragedies including the lost of his mother. Musa has informed me that he intend to focus on his family and fulfil his mandate of serving the people of Latri Kunda Erinjang Ward as a Councillor.
Major Bensuda adduced that since 2018, Musa Bah has been an exemplary representative of his ward, adding that the former deputy mayor has been working tirelessly to achieving the dreams of his ward and that of the council.
“I have known Musa to be a committed and selfless individual that has put duty before self-interest, i respect and accept his decision to resign as the deputy mayor of the Kanifing Municipality. I will continue to support Musa in his journey of public service to his constituents and hope that as a public servant we will learn from each other until we put duty first,” Mayor Bensuda revealed about the ex-deputy Mayor.
Mayor Bensuda disclosed that Council has also endorsed the appointment of Mrs. Binta Janneh Jallow as the new deputy mayor for the council, adding that the elected councillor of Bakau New Town/Fajara Ward will resume office immediately effective 26th July, 2021.