Prominent Gambian lawyer, politician and leader of the Sobeya movement, Essa Mbye Faal, has publicly addressed and denied allegations circulating on social media that he defrauded a political supporter of GMD 700,000.
Faal broke his silence in a video statement following two days of widespread online discussions surrounding the allegations, which also saw the names of other prominent political figures dragged into the controversy.
Among those mentioned were GDC leader Mamma Kandeh and Kanifing Municipal Council Lord Mayor Talib Bensouda. However, Faal said neither politician had any connection to the financial dispute.
“I extend my sympathies to Honourable Mamma Kandeh and Lord Mayor Talib Bensouda, whose names were dragged into this matter when they had absolutely nothing to do with it,” Faal said.
“This issue concerns me. Whoever put this out should have simply said that Essa Faal scammed someone, without needing to drag others into it.”
Explaining the background to the controversy, Faal said the dispute originated from financial contributions made during the 2021 presidential election campaign.
According to the Sobeya leader, a key supporter contributed substantial funds to Team Sobeya during the campaign. However, following Faal’s defeat in the election, the individual reportedly approached him nearly three years later and demanded the return of the money, claiming that the funds were a personal loan amounting to GMD 3 million.
Faal said that, although he considered the money to have been political campaign contributions that were not refundable, he nevertheless decided to honour the demand in an effort to maintain peace.
He said he made a series of payments over time, reducing the alleged outstanding balance to GMD 700,000.
Faal further stated that he initially offered to settle the remaining amount through the transfer of a plot of land, an offer he said was initially accepted but later rejected in favour of a cash payment.
The controversy gained wider public attention after social media personality Fanta Tambedou discussed the matter on TikTok.
Faal said that on the same day the issue intensified online, he received a payment of 5 million CFA francs from a debt owed to him by an individual in Senegal. He said the money formed part of a total debt of 25 million CFA francs owed to him.
According to Faal, he immediately used the funds to pay the remaining amount owed to the supporter.
He said only GMD 62,000 remained outstanding after the payment, but that the supporter subsequently waived the balance after receiving the vast majority of the alleged GMD 3 million.
Faal said arrangements had nevertheless been made to settle the remaining amount.
Faal strongly rejected the characterisation of the dispute as a scam, pointing to his professional background and international legal career.
“I would not leave a high-paying international job where the earnings were more than enough for me to come here and scam someone out of 700,000 dalasis,” he said.
He also disclosed that individuals and organisations in The Gambia allegedly owe him more than GMD 50 million.
Faal further claimed that the Gambian government owes him US$125,000 in connection with a previous dispute involving the allocation of land.
The presidential candidate described the controversy as part of what he characterised as a broader pattern of political attacks aimed at damaging his reputation.
He compared the latest allegations to previous rumours and accusations he said had been circulated about him, including claims relating to land and political rivalries.
Faal also explained that his response to the allegations was delayed because of what he described as pressing international legal commitments involving high-level matters connected to the International Criminal Court.
Concluding his statement, Faal said he had chosen to forgive those who accused or criticised him.
“All of this is intended to create discord, slander people, and attack reputations because many view it as politics,” he said.
“In my entire life, my only goal every single day is to impact people’s lives positively. I forgive you all and seek your forgiveness.”
