By Nicholas Bass
Defense first witness (DW1), Kafu Bayo a resident of Tujereng Village yesterday denied knowing government ownership on any lands in Kombo South District.
It could be recalled that the Gambia Tourism Board sometimes in September 2019 filed a sermon against Ebrima Jeng , Chief Executive Officer of T/AEJ Investment Real Estate and General Trading seeking for an injunction to restrain ,Jeng and his servants or agents from entering or otherwise interfering physically or by any other way with the land situated in Tujereng Village Kombo South , a tourism development area.The summon also seeks legal and administrative cost of D500, 000 with value added tax of 15% cost among other demands.
During cross-examination, DW1, Kafu Bayo by defense lawyer M.F. M’bai before Justice S.Wadda-Cisse, Bayo told the courtthat he did not know that the government owns lands situated at Kombo South District, noting that the residents of Kombo South District inherited the lands from their forefathers.
The witness revealed that the National Tourism Board into Tujereng Village after they have sold the land, noting that the land was sold to T/AE J Investment Real Estate was farms of the community of Tujereng.
The defense witness Bayo also recalled that his brother, Pa Bayo sold a separate plot of land to Ousai Macanley, but was quick to say that he did not remember when his brother actually sold the said land.
Mr. Bayo further recalled that the land that was sold to T/AE J Investment Real Estate and General Trading was a farmland for the community of Tujereng.
Meanwhile, DW1 stated that Tujereng and Batakunku Village were one settlement area, adding that Batakunku was a farmland for the residents of Tujereng but now the two communities are apart with their Alkalos.
T/AE J Investment Real Estate and General Trading,(defendant) were represented by lawyer Ida Drameh