BCC CEO Refutes Babou Cisse Arrest Claims

Mr Mustapha Batchilly, the Chief Executive Officer of Banjul City Council (BCC), has described as unfounded a report by the online newspaper Senegambianews.com that Babou Cisse was arrested by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

In a press statement sent to this paper, Mr Batchilly stated that Babou Cisse was recruited to carry out an audit exercise of the revenue administration and devise a system of proper revenue collection in order to avoid discrepancies and fraud.

He emphasised: “Babou Cisse was never arrested or detained by the NIA. He was asked to throw light on the method of revenue collection which he ably explained, supported by the actual revenue receipts in the months of November and December [2007], when he was in charge of the market.”

According to the BCC Chief Executive Officer, revenue reached a record level of D1 million in one single month, the highest ever recorded in the history of BCC.

He stressed that Babou was never responsible for the increase in stall rates, pointing out that it was “a decision of the Council.” “The closure of stalls is also a decision of Council,” he added.

Tenants who are affected by this exercise have been responsible for either letting stalls without the consent of BCC or sold their leases at exorbitant rates of about D15,000.00 annually,” he said.

He added that such an act was not only “a breach of contract with BCC but it was also a fraudulent act.”