Serious accusations have been made by Samba Jallow, the National Assembly Member for Niamina Dankunku, linking the general manager of Gam Petroleum to a well-known corruption scandal involving bribes from a foreign oil importer.
Speaking at a debate on the findings of a joint report by the Public Enterprises Committee (PEC) and the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC), Hon. Jallow asserted that Yoro Jallow, the general manager of Gam Petroleum, was paid D600,000 per month by Apogee Enterprises, an oil importer with ties to Russia. The study in question describes alleged instances of money laundering, tax evasion, bribery, and corruption connected to the sale of 36,935 metric tonnes of petroleum products worth more than $30 million.
Hon. Jallow informed the Assembly that he had a private discussion with a key witness who he did not name but who he claimed was the “mastermind” behind the affair and who reportedly revealed the specifics of the payments. Jallow claims that the person told him that Access Bank account activity could be used to track down the illegal transfers made to the Gam Petroleum General Manager.
For two hours, the witness waited for us here. Since he was the genius behind everything, we were unable to connect with him. I spoke with him in private. He informed me that Gam Petroleum’s general manager had received the D600,000. “You will see the first withdrawal if you go to access the bank account,” Jallow informed me.
If justice is to be administered fairly, he further contended, individuals involved in this case must likewise be examined and held accountable, which includes incarceration if found guilty, if Dr. Banja could be investigated, charged, and imprisoned for an audio leak.
The member went on to say that the study has all the required proof, which he claimed unequivocally shows that office misuse is a type of corrupt behavior.
“And bribery and corruption are the same thing, and we have witnessed it occur in this nation, My Honorable Colleagues. No one in this nation is unaware of what has taken on. Remember that this was in the control of the people before it reached the National Assembly,” he said.
In order to confront the seriousness of corruption, Jallow also called for legal reforms. He made the case that, although the loss of one life is heartbreaking, corrupt practices cause considerably more harm by hurting the entire country.
However, engaging in corrupt activities results in the death of an entire country. We are here at the expense of some things. Does anyone fail to perceive corruption in this activity? An investigation is put on hold when a minister contacts a counterpart minister. Isn’t that a misuse of authority? Is it not corruption when someone abuses their position? This is basic sense, my friends,” he said in closing.
