As the corruption news in the Kanifing Municipal Council continuing to generate more news, The Kanifing Municipal Council has unveiled to the press the recovery of D2.4 million (two million and four hundred thousand dalasis) from the alleged fraudulent financial transactions undertaken by the suspended Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and others to acquire loans for staff of the council without their prior knowledge and approval.
This new development has revealed at the biannual congress of the Kanifing Municipality Council Staff Welfare Association (KMCSWA) held on Saturday 7th August, 2021, where members of the welfare expressed disappointment as regarding the corruption scandal that hits the council.
“This is an update on the matter of the officials involved in the fraudulent land loan that was reported in our press conference of the 26th July, 2021,” Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensuda divulged. Adding that, “the Council has worked tirelessly with the bank (AGIB) to recover additional funds from the unapproved land loan.
Since the last press conference, an additional GMD2, 400, 000.00 was successfully recovered from the fraudulent transaction of D12million loan, the additional amount of GMD2, 400, 000 has been returned to the account of KMC’s Staff Welfare Association.”
According to him, nine hundred thousand (D900, 000) is yet to be recovered from the fraudulent transaction, adding that Council has since filed a case against the suspended officials.
“As previously reported in the last press briefing, the Council recommended to the Local Government Service Commission for the removal from office of these five individuals.
“While waiting a decision from the Local Government Service Commission, Council resolved that the said officers be sent on indefinite leave.
“ The Council awaits the decision of the Commission,” Bensuda disclosed. KMC Supremo continued that the Council has received a letter from the Minister of Local Government that inspectors would be appointed to investigate matters reported to the Ministry and Local Government Service Commission as well as a petition from the suspended staff, adding that Local Government Minister has also demanded Council to rescind its decision on the affected staff.
“The Council considered the Minister’s letter at its sitting of 2nd and 3rd August. The Council resolved to maintain its previous resolution except that salaries of the said officials will continue to be paid in the interim,” Mayor Bensuda confirmed the position of KMC on the suspended officials.
He added: “Council maintained that it is a matter within the powers and prerogative of Council to send staff on leave in appropriate cases pending cases investigations into their activities by the relevant bodies. We will continue to apply the law and follow due process.”
He said Council will open all doors for the proposed inspectors coming from the ministry, adding all files, records and personnel will be availed to the inspectors as in line with the zero tolerance to corruption and corrupt officials par the Local Government Act.
However, on Saturday 7th August, 2021, members of the Kanifing Municipal Council Staff Welfare Association also expressed their dismay regarding the alleged fraudulent financial transactions undertaken by few members in collaboration with the CEO and Finance Director without the knowledge of the general membership, disclosing that members involved have resigned from the welfare association and has no mandate to represent the association at any given time.
Members of the KMCSWA has also unanimously distance themselves from an account open on behalf of the member at AGIB Bank where the association is said to owe Agib Bank over three million Dalasis (D3million), disclosing that members of the welfare association are not aware of any account opened at Agib Bank and not liable to any responsibility of loans taken from the bank.
ModouNjie, Market Manager and newly elected President of the Kanifing Municipality Council Staff Welfare Association said his team will not leave any stone unturned and will follow every butut of the association from 2014 to date.
“We are very disappointed with the CEO and his partners for their fraudulent activities meant to squander the merger resources of the hardworking staff of the council. They have no authority to enter into business of obtaining loans on behalf of the members of the staff welfare and to us they are solely responsible for their own actions,” elected President KMCSWA told journalists.
