By: Fatou Krubally
Former Brikama Area Council Chairman Sheriffo Sonko and ex-Chief Executive Officer Modou Jonga reappeared before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry on Monday August 11, facing intense questioning over allegations of revenue suppression and internal audit discrepancies.
The case centres on former revenue collector Alieu Saine, accused of suppressing council revenue amounting to D164,000. Sonko denied any family relationship with Alieu Saine despite claims made by the council’s internal auditor, Sulayman Barry, who suggested a familial link may have influenced the handling of the case. Sonko said he only knew Alieu professionally, as a council staff member, and insisted there was no personal relationship.
Sonko explained that he was first briefed on the revenue suppression allegations by then-CEO Modou Jonga, who informed him that the council’s internal audit unit had begun an investigation. The findings were serious enough to warrant referral to the Local Government Service Commission after the council’s Establishment and Appointment Committee reviewed the audit report.
Minutes from a meeting of the Establishment and Appointment Committee held on November 24, 2020, revealed that some of the receipts audited by the internal unit were inflated by a total of D6,000. This discrepancy led the committee to revise its original recommendations. It called for Alieu Saine to repay the defrauded amounts and imposed a three-month suspension without salary alongside a serious warning letter.
However, the committee also recommended cautioning the head of the internal audit unit for causing undue alarm within the council by presenting an allegedly inflated report. This move raised questions before the inquiry, as auditors are generally expected to provide accurate and impartial findings.
When questioned on why the internal auditor was cautioned for uncovering wrongdoing, Jonga insisted that it was a decision made collectively by the committee. He added that following these internal deliberations, the matter was forwarded to the Ministry of Local Government for further investigation and disciplinary action.
Jonga provided further clarity, stating that while the Establishment Committee’s recommendations were submitted to the Local Government Service Commission, he could not confirm whether the matter was taken before the full council, a procedural step that inquiry officials suggested should have been followed.
Beyond the specific Alieu Saine case, Jonga was also challenged over broader financial management issues during his tenure. These included procurement irregularities, uninvestigated withheld revenues totaling more than D850,000, and the controversial withdrawal of D44 million by another council official. Jonga maintained that management had responded formally to all audit findings and promised to submit documentation to back his claims.
The inquiry continues as it probes the financial oversight of the Brikama Area Council. Both Sonko and Jonga rejected accusations of nepotism and bias, while officials vowed to examine contested audit figures and disciplinary procedures thoroughly before issuing final recommendations.