As part of the National Assembly’s ongoing investigation into the sale and disposition of former President Yahya Jammeh’s assets, State House Vehicle Controller Famara Saidyba testified before the Special Select Committee on Tuesday.
Hon. Jammeh, a committee member, questioned Saidyba throughout the hearing regarding allegations that Sergeant Adama Jagne had transported multiple white buses from the State House to the Kanifing Garage. Saidyba responded by disputing the existence of any such transfer and asserting that the busses in question were utilized on official presidential excursions. He clarified that he was in charge of four white busses, which were taken out solely for formal reasons.
Saidyba also stated in his testimony that three other buses were parked outside the cement store, but they were in bad shape and couldn’t be assigned to any governmental agency. He claims that the Commission subsequently sold these buses in 2019.
However, Hon. Jammeh told the witness that the committee had proof that multiple buses had been transferred to Kanifing. In response, Saidyba emphasized that any relocation of government property from the Kanifing site would require appropriate documentation from the military, pointing out that it is a military base and not within his control.
Saidyba responded that he maintained a number of Land Cruisers but was unable to remember removing any from the State House garage when asked if he had ever been given a green and black Land Cruiser. He clarified that certain vehicles in the State House were cut and disposed of through a tender process with five bids, with the highest bidder receiving the contract, per the then-secretary general’s directive.
Additionally, Saidyba denied ever giving orders to distribute tractors and claimed he was unaware of any Mercedes “gele gele” ambulances in the State House fleet.
He was informed by Hon. Jammeh that two tractors that were scheduled for sale had been sold to a Brikama GRA officer instead. Saidyba was shocked to learn of this, saying he had compiled a list of all tractors and sent it to the Janneh Commission, and he had no idea that any had been sold outside of the formal auction procedure.
