By Buba Gagigo
The Mayor of Kanifing Municipality has said that the council has recovered D7, 650, 000 of the D12, 000, 000 allegedly withdrawn by the CEO Mrs Sainabou Sonko, illegally.
“Sometimes in June of this year, my office intercepted financial transactions initiated and entered into by Mrs Sainabou Sonko. Following investigations into the related banks and parties, it was discovered that Mrs Sonko entered into illegal transactions without lawful authority to the tune of D12, 000, 000. These illegal transactions were completed with the co-signature of the Director of the Director of finance- Dr Alieu Keita,” The Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda said.
He informed that after their investigations into the matter, they discovered that Mrs Sonko acquired a bank loan in the name of the staff association of the council on behalf of 37 staff without their knowledge.
“She used these funds to acquire a property which we believe to have been grossly overvalued, and she forged council documentation and approvals to obtain a guarantee purportedly from KMC to secure the loan,” he continued.
Bensouda continued that Sonko was confronted in a directors meeting and she confessed to her actions and apologised.
“Although she has since recanted her position, we have proceeded to complete the investigations and table the matter before the council,” the Mayor stated.
He concluded that they held a general council meeting where they adopted three resolutions. The first requests the Local Government Commission to terminate the services of Mrs Sonko and the Director of Finance; the second requests the matter to be reported to the police; and the third requests both Mrs Sonko and the Director of Finance be put on indefinite leave, pending the outcome of the investigations.