By Saio Marrah
First accused, Saidu Nallo in an ongoing corruption trial regarding the renovation of Sierra Leone’s UN Chancery Building in New York has testified that he was never involved in the awarding of any contract for renovation of the structure.
Nallo told the court on Wednesday 6th December 2023, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Freetown, which is the headquarters ‘’micromanage’’ such an action.
He was responding to questions from his Lawyer, Pa Momoh Fofanah, who read out count 16 of the Anti-Corruption Commission’s indictment.
According to the indictment, between 1st January to 31st December 2018, he (Saidu Nallo), as then Head of Chancery at the time, and the third accused, Foday Vahfomba Bawoh, who was the accountant attaché, willfully failed to comply with procedures in awarding a contract to Fairfield Construction Company for the renovation of the chancery building.
“There was in no way would the mission engage in awarding of the contract,” he insisted.
Nallo further insisted that all decisions regarding the awarding of that contract were made at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Freetown, which is the headquarters. He also told the court that he did not come across any applicable guideline or procedure about awarding such a contract, pointing out that the contract itself was given based on the laws of New York.
He also cited one of the state’s witnesses, the principal accountant of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who said that such procedures have to go through a procurement committee at the ministry, then sent to the principal accountant at another unit before sending it to the ministry of foreign affairs.
He also denied allegations in respect to count 17 of the indictment that he and the third accused between the 1st and 31st March 2018, willfully failed to comply with applicable procedures with management of funds amounting-50,000 United States Dollars for the payment to Jules Sanders Davies for the construction of the building.
According to him, the management of the fund was done in Freetown, and that when the contractor requested payment, they (staff of the UN mission) would first visit the site to ensure what the contractor had put on paper was actualized before sending a request for payment to Freetown.
“I did not at any given time work with Foday Vahfomba Bawoh with regards to the management of the funds,” Nallo pointed out.
He also added that estimates from the contractor are what they would include in a memo to Freetown.
Commenting on how the said $50,000 was spent, Nallo said at a certain point, the contractor came to them shedding tears that the sub-contractor had threatened to sue him, as it had been eight months that workers on the site were not receiving salaries.
Nallo however insisted that procedures were followed.
Before giving the said money to the contractor, Nallo noted that they (the team from the mission) held a meeting with the contractor at the site, where the contractor said he was resigning due to the untimely payment for the renovation.
The court learned from him that the said $50,000 was part of the payment due to be paid to the contractor in 2017.
He also told the court that the contractor acknowledged receipt of the said money.
Nallo also read out a letter from the Fairfield Construction Company dated 21st April 2021, listing all monies received and the balance in respect of the contract.
According to him, the $50,000 was included among the monies received by the construction company.
Commenting on the addition of the 5th and 6th floors, Nallo said when the mission did a clarification with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Public Procurement Authority, the mission was told that they need not solicit new contract for the addition of the two floors as long as it were the same contractor.
Saidu Nallo and 5 others including the former presidential candidate for 2018 and 2023 General Elections, Dr.Samura Kamara are facing corruption charges.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (08/12/23)
