By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
Testimonies at the Commissions of Inquiry on Wednesday has shown that former Minister of Sports, Ahmed Khanou owns a house in Gloucester with estimated value of just over US $2million.
Khanou and nine others who served as ministers in the Ernest Bai Koroma administration are being investigated by the Justice Biobele Georgewill Commission of Inquiry for the assets they acquired during their time in office.
Khanou served as the Minister of Sports before he was later appointed as the Deputy Minister of Lands.
Olu Campbell, a government property valuation expert said Khanou’s property in the Western rural district is worth US$ 2.075 million.
“I saw more than two buildings in the compound,” he said.
“The house is worth US$2million, the land is US$50,000 and the fence is US$25, 000,” Campbell said.
Defense Counsel for Khanou, Africanus Sesay challenged Campbell’s valuation method. He said Campbell couldn’t have been able to determine how many buildings were in the compound if he could not enter.
“You didn’t mention the size of the land. How can you value it at US$ 50,000?”
Campbell responded: “We were prevented not to enter those properties, so I could not determine the size of the land.”
“But I used my experience to determine that,” he added.
Sesay is not the only one contesting the valuation method of Campbell, but Justice Georgewill repeatedly said the defense is always welcome to do their own valuation and present it to the commission.
State Counsel, Robin Mason told Justice Georgewill that they are planning to make an application later for the judge to visit some of the properties that are under investigation.
Even though he jokingly said he was hesitant because of the possible resistance he would face from property owners, Georgewill said it is something he would consider.
“You make an application, if any of the properties are in Freetown then we will visit it and see,” he said.
A report by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) also showed that Khanou had six different bank accounts, one of which was at Ecobank with US$ 57,720. He also held accounts at Guarantee Trust Bank, First International Bank, and Sierra Leone Commercial Bank. He had more than Le1billion in at least four of the six accounts.
The asset declaration form of Khanou showed that his emolument for his tenure in government amounts to just over Le1.2billion.
Sesay’s defense was that there is no law against his client holding multiple accounts.
Dept. Inspector Lansana Andre Musa, who conducted the investigation, told Justice Georgewill: “As a Police officer it is suspicious for anyone to have more than one account.”
Inspector Musa also said that the FIU report suggested that there were monies deposited and withdrawn from the accounts without any clear purpose stated.
The probe into his case and the four others is set to be wrapped up by Friday in the commissions.
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