Bamba Mass Lambasts Ebou Jallow: Calls him Thief with Questionable Character

Published 09/29/2010 - 6:49 a.m. GMT Rate This Article:

 Capt. Ebou Jallow, ex-junta Spokesman recently named two former government ministers in finance minister ousman Koro Ceesay's murder. Opposition leader Ousainou Darboe doubts Jallow's credibility. Ebou Jallow, not only Darboe, but no sensible Gambians should ever take you seriously!

By Bamba Mass (UDP Militant, UK)

Editor,

Please allow me some space to react to my brother in-law; Captain Ebou Jallow who many still believe is an alleged thief. He was the junta's spokesman - a man of questionable character, with little or no credibility in his resent reaction on The Gambia Echo online newspaper in which he accused Ousainou Darboe of having written a memo to Jammeh offering his service in case of a caretaker Government in 1994.

I am happy to have read your 28th September [letter] on The Gambia Echo, reacting to Ousainou’s claims that you had been hobnobbing with Jammeh, and that you cannot be taken seriously.

Ebou, you keep contradicting yourself… and it’s not only Ousainou who doubts your credibility, but all serious Gambians should never take you seriously. Sometimes when I read certain things either about you or from you, including your latest reaction to Ousainou’s claims, I would ask myself: is this man still laughing at Gambians? Or what is he this time talking about?

Can you help yourself again and read your own statement about Ousainou Darboe offering his ‘service in case of a caretaker Government’ after the coup.

Are you for once serious that you expect Darboe or even serious Gambians to believe your stories even if they were true?

Ebou, the truth is, you are not real when you allegedly sent Darboe copies of your so called documents concerning you and your former boss, Jammeh, allegedly emptying our coffers that led to you two falling out, and later fought it out amongst yourselves in a Swiss court. Or did I hear it right? Maybe America, but no I belief it was a Swiss court. You should have come clean to all Gambians not only Darboe because it is alleged you have stolen from an entire nation and not one man.

Oh was it that then you believed he was the only credible Gambian at home to have trusted in sending your documents?

Captain Ebou Jallow, you are Gambia’s real “Samba Toxel”, or how should I call you “a member of Ali Baba and associated thieves?”

You so called Captain. In autumn of October 23 1995 money meant for the Gambian people, part of a $35 million Taiwan loan suddenly went missing. You were accused of having diverted such a huge state money into your own account when you were allegedly directed by your boss to transfer the money from our Central Bank to his (Jammeh’s) personal secret Swiss bank account, to which both you and president Jammeh had access to. You thief was taken to court and in January 1998 and a Swiss court ordered the return of US $3m that you, Jallow, had transferred from the Central Bank of The Gambia to a personal bank account in Geneva. Until now you have never personally apologized to the Gambian people for any wrong doing.

You were alleged to have duped Gambians by clandestinely siphoning state funds amounting to millions of dollars. You accused Ousainou of wanting to work for any future caretaker Government but not the military. How about you? Oh are you different from Darboe, where Darboe being human should have never contemplated serving his country under any caretaker government because YOU guys had toppled a democratically elected Government as you put it? If so, then you at least, have given Darboe credit. You Ebou of all people cannot still shut up for once.

After your alleged stealing from Gambians, maybe you were then thinking you have had your share in the scramble for the state money, Gambians heard the breaking news over Radio Gambia some years ago, announcing that the spokesman of military regime Captain Ebou Jallow absconded with an estimated 3 million dollars. Until today, neither You Ebou Jallow nor the money in question has ever been made available to Gambians. What did you want Darboe to do when you sent him those documents, to defend you?

God forbid!

Having served Jammeh’s terror both as council member and even at one time its mouth piece, you gave the man all licences to do what he pleases. How can you now instead of asking our forgiveness you now counter pointing fingers?

Where was Jallow when those murders happened? He said he was in Libya where he was informed by Col. Kaddafi about Koro Ceesay’s death. Ebou, may I ask you why did you decide to come back home and continue to serve the AFPRC many months after? Was it that you were looking for ways to grab your share in the scramble for our state money!

Gambians should have known Ebou Jallow by now to even contemplate taking him seriously. And even though you knew Gambians had suffered so much but you still opted to stay with Jammeh; campaigning for his eternal stay in power. Was it not this same man who few years ago was calling for reconciling with Jammeh and Even praised Him on one of his visits to America? Oh is it because your Boss had never granted you amnesty to return home that you have now decided to renew your attacks and pretence for justice in the name of Jammeh’s victims?

Do you think Gambians have forgotten when you were sent on Jammeh’s errands in April 1995, on a high profile visit to Freetown asking Sierra Leone to help send judges to help Jammeh probe the assets of the ousted officials of President Jawara's government, and with the help of those very so called thieves, e.g. Justice Algali whose stolen assets were later burnt down by former rebels of Sierra Leone. The same so called judges have and are still assisting Jammeh incarnating our brothers and sisters seven feet deep every time. Ebou,don’t you have any shame. How can you put right what you helped dismantle? You were one of the architects of the shambles we are all in right now. Let me remind you a bit when you were the Junta Spokesman

In one of your speeches in Gunjur you indicated that “Democracy is like a bottle”; tha it has many forms and that it does not mean that we have to initiate any form of democracy.

In you trying to legitimize Jammeh’s continuous rule, you went on to say that “the Gambia was handed over a constitution which was a by-product of the Jewish… tradition.”

Ebou, you need more brains because constitutions have neither Jewish nor Christian religions. Constitutions, Republics, Bills of Rights they say, came about in defiance of the principles claimed by monarchs to have the divine right to rule which was prevalent during the ages of the absolute monarchy in Europe.

Ebou, I’m sure you have never even heard of the French Revolutionaries after an idea came up with the Declaration of the Rights of Man which overthrew monarchical tradition or the nobility with the proclamation that;

“All men are born free and with equal rights, and must remain free and have equal rights.”


“During the French Revolution, Revolutionary leaders accused the Church of being in complicity with the monarchy. So how can constitutions stem from religion?

Ebou, do you know that the French revolutionaries did abolish many institutions of the Church and declared a separation between church and state?

Do you know what they called Separation of Powers?


Our colonial master, Britain, does not have a written constitution; and in as much as our Constitution, which is written, is derived from the British type of rule, we had no Monarchy. Maybe we may have one now, thanks to YOU and others.

British Constitution borrows a lot from the French political and constitutional tradition to shape the constitutional instruments of its former colonies. Most constitutions are built on the concept that the state is a secular institution which should be separated from the religious concerns and philosophical control of citizens.

Have you not remembered or known about the bills of rights, protection of the freedom of thought, religion, worship and the right to teach, observe or practice one’s religion or belief.

What do you know about the fact that Bills of rights started from the Magna Carta, where most of British constitutional laws stemmed from?

Ousainou is a constitutional expert and knows that most constitutions emerged after vigorous struggles against the oppression of one group of people by another”. Do you also know that Gambians would today need to amend the APRC adopted Constitution whenever Jammeh goes, otherwise his government can never be liable for any crimes committed during their term in office?


For Ousainou Darboe to side with Ebou would tantamount to failing in his responsibilities as a Leader. Gambians know Ousainou is on record to have on numerous occasions called on the Government of Yaya Jammeh to come clean about all the deaths including that of our dear brother Ousman Koro Ceesay. But he is right to say that for one to take any steps against anyone, there has to be tangible proof - not one coming from a criss-cross like you, Ebou Jallow of all people who once called Jammeh “Khutbu Samaan” of Africa

In one of your speeches at Kanilai,

you same Ebou was quoted saying ‘A UZU BULAHI JAWARA’ A UZU BILLAHI PPP’, A UZU BILLAHI Party”, meaning God should save them from Jawara, God should save them from the PPP; God should save them from Party and even went on to say that God should place the AFPRC above party politics because party politics is the handy work of the devil; that there is “hisbullaahi, i.e. the party of God and “hisbusatan, i.e. the party of the devil;that the AFPRC has brought to the Gambia what party politics has failed to bring; that party politics have brought unnecessary conflicts between the same brothers, members of the same family and the community - that is why God has brought the AFPRC to ensure the salvation of the country; that this is why it brought about political freedom; that if the people have waited for God to bring Political freedom, he, Captain Jallow therefore sees no reason why they cannot rely on God to bring economic freedom. You referred to Captain Jammeh as the “KhutbuSamaan” of Africa.

”Khutbu Samaan” means a religious personality who emerges in each generation to save a people.

Again, you same Ebou Jallow was accused by our online Freedom Newspaper of having participated in the hacking of its paper; an incident which led to so many arrests and firings of Gambians at home, while those whose names appeared on the paper’s registered readers fled the country for fear of their lives

The hacker erased all of its content and replaced the welcome page with a message purportedly signed by Mr. Mbai

The message said: "I have decided to stop producing the Freedom Newspaper as I have pledged an allegiance with my brother Ebou Jallow to join the APRC election campaign." A former army captain, Jallow used to be the spokesman of President Yahya Jammeh's military junta, which took power in a July 1994 coup. The APRC is the president's party, the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction.

It is confirmed that the person who hacked into the Freedom Newspaper site on the night of 22 May was a British Telecom client using the IP address of an Internet user based in the British city of Southampton.

Gambians should also remember well that a few weeks before Freedom Newspaper was hacked, the paper’s Editor Mbai received a message from the very Ebou Jallow, the former junta spokesman. And it said: "If you think that you can do whatsoever you want whilst away from the Gambia, then you better think twice... because the impending reaction in the Gambia is going to be very nasty. This is a warning from a brother."

Jallow also forwarded to Mbai a message he had received from someone called William Glass Junior who claimed he was capable of hacking Mbai's site and posting a message on it "to destroy his reputation."

You Ebou Jallow still have not replied to the message Reporters without Borders sent him on 26 May.

Are you in fact real?

May I humbly ask you why you have been contacting Darboe in the first place since yourself imposed exile if you never believed he had visionary leadership?

In your reaction to Ousainou, you stated amongst others that… “Visionary leadership is predicated on a leap of faith, rooted in courage and profound commitment to serve and lead………………..”

Ebou, you are very right and that was why Darboe had never even tried to believe your story in the first place. What would have happened if Darboe decided to take you seriously and later you as it has been demonstrated by your very own actions in trying to woo Jammeh by participating in the hacking into Freedom Newspaper that sent so many of your fellow countrymen out of work and in exile? Wouldn’t you have done the same by telling Jammeh you were collaborating with Darboe?

Let me lecture you on what a leader Ousainou Numukunda Darboe is by referring you to various speeches he gave out on rallies and in newspapers articles:

On 14 December 1998 speaking at a rally on Friday, the leader of the main opposition party, UDP, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe said it was unfortunate that the APRC government of President Jammeh could join leaders across the world to celebrate Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Lawyer Darboe said: "this government has violated human rights by humiliating the Gambian citizens since the 1994 military coup that toppled Jawara's government and yet they cowardly join Leaders across the world to commemorate Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Ousainou N.K Darboe UDP opposition Leader in an interview with The Point newspaper on the celebration of July 22nd saying that it should be put into a proper perspective.

Darboe went on………”It was an event that ushered in a military dictatorship, a dictatorship that willed its wishes on the Gambian people for two years. And very reluctantly set off its military attire and put on civilian attire and classified itself as a civilian regime. It has of course not disrobed itself of its military attributes. What used to happen during the transition is what is still on in the country. It is against this background that one has to look at the July 22 celebrations, whether it is worth celebrating.

We have seen few days ago two judges sacked without following constitutional provisions. These are the things that I am saying that the military attributes of the regime are still there. In fact, celebrating July 22 is a demonstration of only its military attributes that they still consider themselves as military, so therefore celebrate a military take-over.

In my view, any government that calls itself a democratically elected government; any government that believes in the rule of law and a government that believes that governments should be changed through the ballot box, has no business in celebrating a military take-over. It is wrong for them to do so and they should stop it.

They are spending enormous resources in celebrating an illegality. People are being kept away from work on 22nd July just to celebrate an illegality. In fact, it is sending wrong signals to anti-democratic elements within the society, who would believe that a take-over of government by unlawful means is a right thing to do. So I do not think it is right for the Jammeh administration, that prides itself in being a democratically elected government, to celebrate an illegality; to celebrate the usurpation of constitutional authority by unlawful means is wrong. “Darboe concluded

Ebou have you forgotten

Lawyer Ousainou Darboe was in 2000 charged together with Baba Dramme, Dodou Kasa Jatta, Madi Ceesay, etc, with murder of one Alieu Njie, an APRC supporter who died in clashes after they had laid ambush for opposition leader Lawyer Ousainou Darboe and his entourage during election campaign. But Darboe was never like you and I, to have opted out of fear and abandon The Gambia and its people under Jammeh. Instead, he continued to fight for the restoration of democracy and rule of law. But I am sure yours was not abandoning the Gambia and its people, you stole from us and fled, otherwise you would have still been there singing Jammeh praises or even calling for a one party state!

Every Gambian know for a fact that if Darboe was not democratic and a lover of Gambia with visionary leadership, during the 2001 presidential election campaigns when the UDP was coming from its tour of the country, Ebou, I was there and many people would tell you from Serekunda up to Brikama were cars and people on foot chanting Darboe has already won. If Darboe had listened to some people on that convoy, then we would have today been saying a different story altogether. Even Jammeh was scared that Ousainou might march straight to State House and had deployed killer soldiers at the Denton bridge to shoot anyone who tries to cross.

Ebou, this happened while we were on election Campaign where there was no president, remember!

Darboe categorically refused any form of civilian takeover without a free and fair election. Sure of victory he urged all supporters to respect the rule of law as well as show love and respect to our men in uniform -- police and soldiers alike. He displayed his Leadership qualities in such a manner that some men in uniform that came to meet our convoy were crying saying all is over; dictatorship is dead.

But little did we know that that evening Jammeh had this plans. Some diehard APRC militants were on the verge of disrupting anything that would see their prophet down. Fabakary Tombong Jatta called the Army that some UDP militants were harassing him and his family at Talinding Kunjang while Darboe was holding a rally. Soldiers came without warning and started opening fire on innocent civilians, thus killing one Mr. Njie and injuring many. Many Gambians as we all know became fearful and many never even dared going to vote, and the IEC never did anything. They just went ahead and declared Jammeh the winner with a clear margin.

What about a recent article on the Gambia News: Jammeh accuses UK of backing opposition, July 28, 2010? Jammeh was only scared because UDP militants in the UK have been on fire doing all to strengthen the main body back home which led to the Mansakonko Congress and Brikama rally respectively. This has moved the man. That is why he is feeling unease thus accusing the British Government which did not even notice of such comments.

Ebou, I urge you to read that!

Yahya Jammeh fears no one but Ousainou, as he is today the only Gambian who poses a real threat to Jammeh’s leadership apart from the military which is either marginalized or compromised. I would advise you if you are as brave as Darboe, why not go back home and form either your own political party or something. In fact, even if such a case opens in the Gambia, and Yankuba, Peter and Edward are brought before a law court, you Ebou of all people would never go to testify. So how can people know the truth? Or would you do it via a video link from US?

You need to look at yourself properly every time you get up from bed, my dear brother in-law.

“Assalamu alaikum"