Artist Rongo, whose real name is Momodou Jarju, has accused the Ministers of Lands and Religious Affairs, Hamat Bah, and Youths and Sports, Bakary Y. Badjie, of unlawful interference in his litigated property.

In a formal petition to President Adama Barrow, Jarju claimed the ministers sided with individuals encroaching on his land and selling them.

Speaking at a press conference, he said repeated requests for the interference to stop were ignored despite ongoing legal proceedings over the disputed plots.

“The reason for this press conference is to highlight the unlawful interference by Hamat Bah and Bakary Badjie, along with associates such as Jammeh Bojang. This act is unfair and wrong. I condemn it at the highest level. The law must be respected; nobody is above it. Disregarding it will only lead to chaos,” Jarju said.

He added that, despite decades of pressures, conspiracies, and schemes against him, he has remained patient, confident that justice will eventually prevail.

Jarju specifically accused the Lands Minister of siding with those he has sued for trespassing, including Jammeh Bojang.

“Even knowing the facts, the minister associated with Jammeh Bojang and Alkalo, one of the defendants I sued. The minister should not have entertained that. I am not taking this lightly. This land is mine,” he stated.

He clarified that he has no problem allocating part of his plots for government or national development, having done similar contributions in the past.

“What hurts me is the manner in which these honourable ministers trespassed and interfered with my land. You cannot allocate what you don’t own,” he said.

Jarju criticized Hamat Bah for involving himself in litigated land instead of focusing on other pressing land issues.

“He is not a lawyer, and why should he interfere in litigated lands? Likewise, Bakary Badjie, who is my younger brother, should focus on developing other proposed stadiums instead of jumping into areas outside his jurisdiction. Millions have been wasted unnecessarily on projects that could have been better coordinated,” he added.

Jarju has submitted four petitions to President Barrow regarding the plots under litigation, but alleged trespassers continue to sell portions of his land.

He revealed that one section measuring 100 by 100 meters was illegally occupied, and another was sold to a private media house without his consent.

“This prompted me to write to the Minister of Lands, copying the Attorney General, Minister of Justice, and Physical Planning Department,” he said.

In July 2022, Jarju filed a lawsuit against 17 individuals over the alleged encroachment.

“I don’t deal in speculations or innuendos. I deal with facts backed by evidence. I have exercised maximum patience, but when they ignored me, I had no choice but to take action,” he said.

The two ministers are yet to respond to his accusations.

By Adama Makasuba