Abdourahman Bah, coordinator of the James Junkung Jammeh Memorial Nursery School in Abuko, yesterday opened his defense before Senior Magistrate Lamin George of the Banjul Magistrates Court. 

In his evidence in chief, he told the court that he is the coordinator of the said nursery school, which he and his partners in the UK established with the help of the community of Abuko. 

He recalled that in April 2008, the Gambian leader, President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh made a surprise visit to the nursery school whilst on an official tour of the Abuko abatoire, located next to the nursery. 

"We had a chat with the president and he invited me and my partners to a dinner in Kanilai.  We took six members from the community to the dinner, where the president promised to donate D500, 000, 1000 bags of cements and some computers to the nursery school.

Three months later, I consulted Fabakary Tombong Jatta, majority leader of the National Assembly, in order to access the donation the president promised to give the school," he told the court.  According to Abdourahman Bah, the majority leader at one point assigned Oley Sey to facilitate collection of the said gift from the president through the chief of protocol, Alagie Ceesay at the State House in Banjul.

The nursery school coordinator recalled a day when Oley Sey drove him to the chief of protocol at State House, who assured them that they would receive the donation.  "Some time later, I received a call from Oley Sey, who said she went to meet the president in Kanilai concerning the donation.  Oley further told me that Alagie Ceesay would soon call me.

Later, on the [same day], Alagie Ceesay called to say I should go to the ministry of education to receive the D500, 000 gift from the president.  The ministry also called me to report there the next day, 29th July, 2008, for presentation of the D500, 000 gift," he narrated.

The case was later adjourned to 6th November.