Former Central Bank governor’s assets withheld

The Commission of Inquiry investigating the financial dealings, assets amongst others of Ex-President Yahya Jammeh, his family members and close associates has ordered the frozen of the assets of  Amadou Colley, a close associate of Yahya Jammeh and the immediate past former governor of  the Central Bank of The Gambia.

Amadou Colley has been the governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia from Dec. 3, 2010 to May, 8, 2018.

The evidence adduced before the commission shows that during Amadou Colley’s tenure as governor of the Central Bank, he approved irregular withdrawals from the International Gateway (Vision 2016) Account by General Sulayman Badjie and other military and protocol officers without written approval from the sole signatory to the account (Ex-President Jammeh), instead Amadou Colley created documents (not on any letterhead) on which Gen. Sulayman Badjie, military and protocol officers signed acknowledging receipt of monies from the Central Bank purportedly on behalf of Ex-President Jammeh or Gen. Sulayman Badjie.

Furthermore, evidence before the commission shows that Amadou Colley also approved and facilitated withdrawals requested by text messages received from Gen. Sulayman Badjie who purported to be acting for the Ex-President Jammeh, noting that one of the text messages from Gen. Sulayman Badjie indicated that Ex-President Jammeh gave him D200,000.00 for Amadou Colley.

The commission therefore declared that Amadou Colley, a close associate of Ex-President Jammeh is restrained, whether himself or his officers, servants, agents or any of them or otherwise howsoever from selling, assigning, mortgaging, charging or otherwise disposing of any of the moveable or immoveable assets whether directly or indirectly owned including land, shares, stocks, debentures or other interest in any of their companies or businesses in The Gambia or outside in The Gambia pending further order of the said commission.

Removing from The Gambia any of his aforesaid assets or doing anything that may reduce the value of the said assets pending further order.

The commission, however, indicated that members of the public are invited to provide any information they may have regarding the assets owned by Amadou Colley, the immediate past governor of Central Bank of The Gambia in and out of the country.

Author: Bruce Asemota

From: The Point