Ex-Interior Minister Accepts Negligence Over Ministry Discontinued Probe of Koro’s Death

 

By Adama Makasuba

Lamin Kaba Bajo, Head of the Gambia Football Federation, who made his first appearance at the ongoing Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) on Tuesday accepted negligence over his ministry discontinued from investigation of the death of Ousman Koro Ceesay when he was then a Minister of Interior.

Many witnesses who had appeared before him at the TRRC said Ousman Koro Ceesay was heartlessly burnt to ashes by the members of Junta in 1995.

“As I said I could have done better but may be is the … I couldn’t do more,” he said.

The former State Guard Commander said he heard the death of Koro Ceesay while on trip with former president Yahya Jammeh in Ethiopia for the Organization of African Summit.

He said while at the airport before Jammeh’s entourage took off for Ethiopia Jammeh spoke to Edward Singhatey at the foot of the airplane.

He explained “I travelled with the president to Ethiopia for OAU summit, upon arrival in Addis Ababa later at night the president summoned the members of the delegation to his room through the securities. When we converged, he broke the news to us that he got the news from Banjul that the Finance Minster died in a car crash, that his car was burnt to ashes.”

Mr. Bajo said that Yahya Jammeh told them that the situation is been further investigated; adding that Jammeh said the then Vice Chairman Edward Singhatey and others are handling the matter.

On  the 2006 UDP-APRC scuffle in Central River Region, Bajo said “I didn’t investigate…the operation were done by a sister arm of security. Actually I didn’t have much information about that.”

Meanwhile, he disclosed that Jammeh assisted him to go for officer course abroad while both of them were serving as Gendarme and other aid.