By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
Former Minister of Information and Communication (MIC), Mohamed Bangura has denied any knowledge of requesting or receiving per diem payments up to the sum of US$194,363.12 from the International Gateway Fund which is handled by the National Telecommunication Communication (NATCOM).
Bangura, who was testifying in front of Justice Bankole Thompson at the Commissions of Inquiry on Monday, became the first former APC minister in the administration of former President Ernest Bai Koroma to take to the stands at the Commission. The APC had said it did not recognize the Commission and its members have all refused to appear before it, except through their lawyers.
Dr. Dennis Sandy, currently the minister of Lands, who also served in the Bai Koroma administration, recently appeared at the Commission. But he (Sandi) was in the APC-led government by virtue of a coalition agreement with his then PMDC party.
Former Anti-Corruption Boss, Ady Macauley was in the commission on Monday representing Mohamed Bangura. During his cross examination, Macauley asked Bangura to explain how the process of per diem payment was done at the MIC.
“I received per diems whiles travelling. The Permanent Secretary in collaboration with the Chief Accountant were responsible to arrange that. I informed the Permanent Secretary the number of days for the trip and the purpose of the trip,” Bangura said.
Bangura’s testimony is in relation with allegations made against him by the then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Paul Sandy and Donald Newman the Accountant.
Testimonies from both men stated that they gave per diems to Bangura, upon his own order as a Minister in three separate installments: US$44,000, US$50,000 and US$100,000. The monies were withdrawn from Zenith Bank and First International Bank in Sierra Leone.
Bangura was the Minister in charge of the MIC from April 2016 to October 2017. Documents from the Technical Audit Report show that the monies were withdrawn from October 2016 to February 2017.
In his testimony on Monday, he was consistent in saying: “I did not receive or request any such amount.”
Accordingly, 10 percent of funds from the International Gateway Fund is allocated for to the MIC. As per his testimony, Bangura said the money was supposed to be used for travelling and other office expenses by the ministry.
However, he was adamant that financial responsibility did not rest on him even though he was the Minister, rather the responsibility of the finances of MIC was with the Permanent Secretary and the Accountant.
This was not the only allegation Bangura was facing on the stand on Monday. The Technical Audit Report also showed that he received Le25million as “Goodbye token” from NATCOM when he was sacked as Minister later on. Bangura denied receiving the sum and said it is not a policy directive for NATCOM to give money to former ministers.
“It is not the policy of the ministry, neither by me to ask for goodbye token,” he said.
During re-examination, State Counsel, Robert Kowa asked Bangura what could be the possible reason for Newman and Sandy to ‘not tell the tribunal the truth’?
Bangura replied: “I believe they said so to save their necks.”
The probe in to the NATCOM Development Fund has been closed following Bangura’s testimony. Both counsels are expected to make their final submissions in the coming weeks.
© 2019 Politico Online
