The Gambia Government has dismissed lawyer Ousainou Darboe’s crude oil claims as “fatally false”.

Spokesman Ebrima G Sankareh said in a statement: “Following widespread allegations orchestrated and bandied about by the leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Mr. Ousainou Darboe, President Adama Barrow wishes to make it abundantly clear to all citizens, members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, that his Government has never, ever, lifted a single barrel of crude oil from the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The allegation that has since been amplified by opposition elements and a section of the news media with reporting styles anathema to all ethical standards of journalism, is fatally false, malicious and without a scintilla of truth.

“In actuality, negotiations for The Gambia Government to resume benefitting from Nigerian crude oil began in June 2018 while Mr. Ousainou Darboe was Foreign Minister and later, Vice President.”

“The Nigerian Government granted approval in June, 2019 barely two months after Mr. Darboe’s exit from the corridors of power,” he added.

According to the statement, between August and September 2021 the Gambia Government “embarked on a thorough examination of the offer based on international standards of due diligence and serious expert evaluations of its costs, benefits and ramifications.”

He said cabinet discussed the issue and 

concluded that it was costly. 

“Cabinet therefore, quashed the entire programme and not a single barrel of crude oil was ever lifted either directly or indirectly by the Barrow Government. 

“President Barrow therefore, finds it puzzling that a malicious story premised on falsehood and cheap political propaganda is what some politicians and their media apologists use to caricature and allege corruption and lack of transparency in his Government,” Sankareh said. 

Reporting by Adama Makasuba