Mustapha Batchilly, the former CEO of Banjul City Council (BCC), testified about Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe’s fuel allowance, stating it was D60,000 per month, which conflicts with the Mayor’s claim of D5,000.
Batchilly acknowledged that the Mayor’s Office receives D15,000 for fuel but could not confirm the fuel entitlement of protocol officer Marget Samba.
The Mayor had two cars, an official and a utility car, and Batchilly could not explain the use of two utility cars mentioned in a voucher.
Batchilly admitted he approved the Mayor’s demand for D19,000 per week for fuel, even though he recognized it lacked justification.
He noted that the Mayor’s assistant had traveled abroad with her, a practice not seen before her election.
BCC signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support REFELA activities, causing concerns about unauthorized spending and the proper use of council funds.
Chairperson Jainaba Bah raised issues of budget overruns, with Batchilly agreeing that spending patterns were challenging due to council decisions.
Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez criticized Batchilly for approving payments based on urgent requests from the Mayor, suggesting a lack of proper committee oversight.
