Gibril Ngorr Secka and Abdoulie Joof alias Lie Joof the sixth and seventh accused persons respectively in the ongoing   three counts criminal charges of treason filed in against them and six other accused persons, yesterday gave their evidence-in-chief before the High Court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Amadi.

The evidences of the two accused persons covered their lives, work relation and contacts with their co-accused persons, the 21st March 2006 foiled coup led by Colonel Ndure Cham, the November 2009 alleged coup plot, their arrest and detention as the Mile 2 State Central Prisons, interrogation before the panel of investigators into the alleged November 2009 foiled coup plot, their trip to the office of the DPP in Banjul, their relations with both the PW1 and PW2 Ebrima Marreh and Rui Jabbi Gassama among others as well as their response to the cross examination by the DPP.

The two accused persons stepped into the witness box one after the other in a crowded court filled with relatives, security personnel and the media. The most interesting aspect of it  all was when Lie Joof took oath and hit the Quran against his forehead before he returned the Quran to where it was.

Mr Joof insisted he will give his evidence standing despite the suggestion made the presiding judge for him to sit down in the witness box. He told the judge: "My lord I would prefer to remain standing despite the fact that I am suffering from hypertension." He however, later took his sit in the box.The first to give evidence was Ngorr Secka, who informed the court that he was a diplomat and that before his arrest on the 16th of December 2009, he was residing in Bijilo Village.

The sixth accused further informed the court that he served 24 years in the security services, having enlisted into the Gambia Police Force on the 23rd of September 1985, where he worked under a special branch responsible for collecting intelligence. He revealed that from 1988 to 1994, he was deployed to the then National Security Service (NSS) and before the banning of the NSS he was a bodyguard to the former president of the Republic of The Gambia from 1990-1994. He further revealed that after the establishment of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) he was the liaison officer of the Agency at the GPA from 1994 to December 1995, when he was taken to the NIA headquarters at the counter unit and he was later promoted as head of  the political and labour division of the NIA.

Further commenting on his work career, Ngorr Secka said he was in the year 2000 deployed to The Gambia High Commission in Sierra Leone as the second secretary and  was later promoted as the first secretary and then promoted head of the chancery. He added that in the year 2004 he was promoted as the director of operations at the NIA and in 2006 appointed deputy head of mission in the Gambia Embassy in Guinea Bissau.

About the 21st March 2006 foiled coup
The ex-deputy head of mission in Guinea Bissau, informed the court that he was arrested, detained and released in connection to the 21st March 2006 foiled coup plot as nothing was found against him."I was arrested, detained and released based on the decision of the panel of investigators into the 21st March 2006 foiled coup plot. The panel found nothing against me as far as the said foiled coup was concerned. I was on a leave outside of the country during the 21st March 2006 foiled coup and the time I returned, the investigation into the said coup plot was completed", Ngorr Secka told the court and he went on to give an explanation about his arrest and detention over the November 2009 alleged coup plot.

On his dismissal from diplomatic field
According to Ngorr Secka, he was deputy head of mission at the Gambia's Embassy in Guinea Bissau until 2nd of November 2009.
He said his dismissal came while he was in Banjul and he that he received his dismissal letter on the 5th of November 2009. he added that after his dismissal, he went back to Guinea Bissau then returned to The Gambia.Mr Secka further informed the court that he went to report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and asked the permanent secretary as to the reason for his dismissal, but the PS said he had no idea about the reason for his dismissal, as he the PS was not told the reason.

"I then proceeded to the Protocol Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to surrender my diplomatic passport, but I was told to submit it with a written letter and I did it. Right from the day of my dismissal, I was trying to know the reason, but I could not." Ngorr explained to the court and he then proceeded to give an account of his arrest and detention on the 16th of December 2009.

On the 16th of December 2009
The sixth accused Ngorr Secka, speaking about the circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention in connection to the charge he and seven others are facing at the High Court in Banjul said informed the court that on the 16th of December 2009, almost three to four weeks after the arrest of the other accused persons, while in his Bijilo residence, two NIA officers came and told him that he was needed at the NIA headquarters and he accompanied them to the NIA office, where the director of operations told him that they  wanted to discuss some security issues with him, and also asked him to spend the night with them.

"I was later searched, placed in a cell and later in the night, though I don't know the exact time of the night, I was interrogated by four military officers and the only question they asked me was if the former CDS of the GAF, Lang Tombong Tamba was my friend. I responded in the negative and told them that he is not my friend despite I know him. One of the officers asked if I had called the first accused Lang Tombong while I was in Guinea Bissau and I told them I never called him. I further told them that I once called him on a Koriteh day in 2009 to express my condolence to him on the death of his father, but I did not get him on the phone," Ngorr Secka explained.

He revealed that on the 21st of December 2009, he was removed from the Mile 2 State Central Prison to appear before a panel at the NIA office in Banjul, where he told the director of operations that it took about five days before anyone talked to him. He said from there he was later taken before a panel comprised of military officers, NIA and other security officers headed by the DG of NIA.He continued:

 "The panel asked me as to who and who were the people I do call when I was in Guinea Bissau and I told them that I do call my friends and family members. They then asked me whether I called the first accused Lang Tombong and I told them I once called him to express condolence to him the death of his father, but I did not get him on the phone.The panel asked me when was the last time I saw Lang Tombong, I told them that the last time I saw him was when he came to Guinea Bissau as the CDS in company of Ecowas chiefs of Defence Staff to assess the security situation after the death of the president and chief of Defence Staff of Guinea Bissau. This was when election was about to be held in that country. The panel then saw a photograph and asked whether I know the person on the photo. I told them I don"t know him and I have never seen the man on the photo. The panel further asked as to what business I do in Guinea Bissau, I told them, I am not doing any business In Guinea Bissau, but once in a while I do bring some palm oil to my family for consumption. At that juncture one member of the panel asked how about drugs and I told him I never dealt with drugs".

"The panel again asked me if I know a place in Guinea called Cachaw, I told them, I know Cachaw but I don't know whether it's a village or town. The panel also asked if I know a restaurant called Samareh Camp, I told them, I've been there only once with Gambia's Ambassador Momodou Sainey Badjie in Guinea Bissau, searching for food and I explained to them that the said ambassador came alone to Guinea Bissau without his family, so I was responsible for his food during that period." Further commenting on his encounter with the panel of investigators into the alleged November 2009 foiled coup plot, Secka said the panel asked him if he knows Kabiro Saidy and he replied in the positive, but denied knowledge as to whether the said Kabiro Saidy was a foreigner as he (Ngorr) put it, Kabiro was introduced to him as a Gambian by the former Gambia's Ambassador to Guinea Bissau, Cherno Barra Touray.

He told the court those were the questions the panel asked him and he was assigned to write them down as a statement. Ngorr Secka informed the court that throughout this time he was being questioned, no coup plot was mentioned to him by either the panel or the arresting officers. Secka added that the NIA officers later informed him about an identification parade that was supposed to be held and he was asked to join the parade, which comprised of officers drawn from different units of the NIA."At the parade I saw a gentleman come from within two buildings at the NIA. The gentleman had a short briefing with the DG of NIA, though I don't know what they were talking about because I was away from them. The gentleman came passed and on his way back, he touched me on my shoulder and photographs were taken. The officers asked me whether I was satisfied with the parade, I told them I am not satisfied but my conscience will guide me. We later went back to the panel, where I was confronted with the gentleman and I told them that I don't know him and I have never seen in my life.

The gentleman was asked as to how he came to know me, and he told the panel that I once called him on a private number and told him I was directed by one man to him," Ngorr told the court, and added he later came to know the gentleman as Rui Jabbi Gassama, who testified  in court as PW2.

Mr Secka then described the evidence of PW2 Rui Jabbi Gassama as lies. "My lord I heard PW2 saying many things in the court here some of which I can remember but some I cannot. I remember him saying I showed him a photograph of arms. PW2 said I asked him to train some mercenaries on behalf of the first accused, he also alleged that I do take food to them during the alleged training and slept with them at Bambadinka on weekends. These are all figment of lies, because I never saw him, I don't know, much more do any thing with him. The first time I saw him was when he identified me at the parade and subsequent appearance in court as PW2", Ngorr explained.
The defence counsel PC Secka, then gave an interpretation of the term "Bambadinka"  a Mandinka word meaning  a crocodile hole.

Relations with the PW3
Ngorr Secka denied the allegations that, he frequently moves with the PW3 Kabiro Saidy in Guinea Bissau.
"I have never been to Samareh camp with both PW3 and PW2 Kabiro Saidy and Rui Jabbi Gassama. PW2 never visited my residence much more at the Gambia Embassy in Guinea Bissau as alleged by PW3. To cut the story short, PW3 Kabiro Saidy works at a project run by the Embassy about four kilo-miters away from the Embassy. The project is a construction project where PW3 is a security officer. My lord, it's not possible for someone who did not have my contact number and did not even know my  name to be allowed to visit me inside the Embassy, because there are security personnel on guard, who must ask your mission, the name and contact of the person the visitor  wanted to visit. PW2 said he knows me as Assan and we don't have anyone at the Embassy called Assan.

 My lord, hear the charges against me, its ridiculous. I had no idea about a coup plot. I have never discussed with anybody about a coup plot. I totally deny the coup plot charges. I have no contact with any of the accused persons apart from the first accused person. I have not seen these people for a very long time. Almost from the year 2006. and I have not met any one of them in the whole of 2009, apart from the first accused sometime ago in 2009 and we later met at the NIA and the Mile 2 Prisons.

About the 12th of February 2010
Ngorr Secka explained among other things that, on the 12th of February 2010, he and the first accused were removed from the Mile 2 Central Prisons and taken to the DPP's office in Banjul.He revealed that the DPP told him that since he (Ngorr) is a civilian, he did not need to follow these soldiers and as such he (the DPP) wanted to give him (Ngorr) a statement form and write exactly what happened so that he could be used as a witness. According to the sixth accused, he told the DPP in very clear and strong terms that he cannot be a witness in anything that he has no idea about.

"I told the DPP that I may look very young to you but I cannot be forced to do something that I have no idea about. I told him that I have been professional in life and that at one time I work with a chief justice. I further told the DPP that if he doesn't believe what I was telling him, let him ask the panel of investigators about a cassette recorded version of what I told them, because it was recorded. I told the DPP that I told the panel that this is the only country that we have, The Gambia and I further told the panel that they should listen to me with their conscience as what is happening to me can happen to anyone of them, because they could also be framed. I told the panel that I don't believe there was any coup plot and as far as I am concerned I don't know anything about this alleged coup plot;" Ngorr said.

Cross examination by DPP
Gibril Ngorr Secka told the court that he doesn't know PW2, Rui Jabbi Gassama and he cannot explain why he would come to the court to lie against him.Gibril Ngorr Secka also told the court that he knows Kabirou Saidy (PW3) and he used to send him on errand, but he has never had any quarrel or brawl with him.The defence witness said when he became suspicious of Kabirou Saidy he instructed his watchman not to allow anybody into his compound when he (Ngorr) is not in his compound in Bissau, particularly Kabirou Saidy because he has lost so many valuables in his house, including cell phone, a microtape recorder, among others.

The sixth accused stated that though he did not openly accused PW3, Kabirou Sady, after he discovered that some of his items were missing, he then told PW3 that he doesn't trust him.He revealed that PW3 Kabirou Saidy was the only one who frequented his house in Bissau.On the evidence of PW3, Kabirou Saidy that he (PW3) had warned him, Ngorr Secka told the court that Kabirou Saidy has never warned him. 

Concerning Amisad, Ngorr Secka explained that Amisad is not a place as stated by the PW3, Kabirou Saidy, but a group of influential people comprising of top Guinean civil and military persons.He pointed out that Amisad was like vous as it is popularly known in The Gambia eg. Da young crew vous, adding that Amisad is derived from the Portuguese word of Amingo meaning friend.
Ngorr Secka revealed that the said groups of people belonging to the Amisad came to The Gambia to witness the launching of a cassette in a song dedicated to them by a famous Gambian musician.

Ngorr Secka said he doesn't even know Kukoi Samba Sanyang, and during the 2006 foiled coup, he was out of the jurisdiction and in the 2009, he was arrested almost one month after the other accused persons were already arrested.Ngorr Secka told the court that he has spent 24 years of his life with security and dedication serving the country.Ngorr Secka further told the court that he heard PW2, Rui Jabbi Gassama evidence that he and Kukoi contracted him to purchase ship for the transportation of the arms andammunition to The Gambia, but described the evidence of PW2, Rui Jabbi Gassama as a blatant lie, saying that he is surprised as he doesn't even know if there was any ship in Cachew.

Ngorr Secka further told the court that he does not know of any meeting held at the residence of Lang Tombong Tamba and he has never contacted Lang Tombong Tamba or Lamin Bo Badjie.Ngorr Secka explained that he has never seen Kukoi Samba Sanyang in his life and has never helped or assisted the other accused persons with arms, ammunitions and personnel to stage a coup d' etat against the democratically elected government of The Gambia.He told the court to disbelieve the evidence of PW2, Rui Jabbi Gassama, as there is no iota of truth in his evidence.

Abdoulie Joof's testimony (Part 1)
Abdoulie Joof alias Lie Joof, the seventh accused, 68 years, told the court that before his incarceration, he resided at Fajara and was a clearing and forwarding agent who conducted his business in the name of Nyohobaye and Sons at 68 Ecowas Avenue in Banjul.
Lie Joof confirmed that he once cleared the vehicle of the first accused, Lang Tombong Tamba in 1995, but doesn't know where the first accused lives.

He told the court that the evidence of PW1, Ebrima Marreh that he (PW1) saw him (Lie Joof) in the houses of the first accused (Lang) attending meeting is a blatant lie.Lie Joof also told the court that the evidence of PW1, Ebrima Marreh that he saw him giving a cheque to Lang Tombong Tamba in the first accused residence as another blatant and fabricated lie.Lie Joof informed the court that he has a bank account with Bank PHB, in the name of Nyohobaye and Sons.At this point, defence counsel, SM Tambedou, produced a bank statement of Bank PHB, which he gave to the seventh accused, telling him to peruse the said bank statement.

After perusing the said statement, Lawyer Tambedou asked Lie Joof to explain to the court some details concerning the statement.
The seventh accused, Abdoulie Joof told the court that the said statement was in the name of Nyohobaye and Sons and the said bank statement was from the 5th of January 2009 to the 31st of December 2009.Lawyer Tambedou then made an application for the said bank statement, to be admitted in evidence.

The said 19-page bank statement of the seventh accused, Abdoulie Joof in the name of Nyohobaye and Sons was admitted in evidence as exhibit 7 DW1.The seventh accused however told the court that he attended the first accused (Lang) father's funeral in Siffoe, near Brikama to pay condolence to him and he also attended the first accused (Lang) father's eighth day charity in Siffoe.Lie Joof explained that the funeral of the first accused (Lang) father was attended by several diplomats, ministers, service chiefs and well-wishers, but he could not see the first accused (Lang) on that very day because he was too busy.The seventh accused said he couldn't attend the first accused father's 40th day charity, but he delegated someone to the first accused and gave the sum of D2,500.

Lie Joof told the court that he came to know PW1, Ebrima Marreh in the court and doesn't know why PW1 lied against him, maintaining that all what PW1 Ebrima Marreh said against him was a bunch of fabricated lies. He told the court that he was arrested on the 21st of November 2009. He explained that it was about 15:30 hours whilst he was in the office of his client at Ecowas Avenue, when two NIA officers came to his client's office and informed him that he was needed at the NIA office in Banjul, as he was wanted so as to clarify certain things with him.Lie Joof told the court that he went with the NIA officers, but was later invited to a panel of investigators. At this juncture, Justice Amadi adjourned the case to today.