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Continuing his evidence under cross examination by defence counsel Lamin Jobarteh, the NIA operative (name withheld), who testified in the sedition trial of journalist Fatou Jaw Manneh, on Monday, 21 April, said he is a graduate of Armitage High School and had served the agency for fifteen good years.

The NIA operative agreed with counsel Jobarteh that Armitage High School does not have any expert course. He added that he had obtained a certificate on formal training on computer in the field of Information Technology and also on Basic Introduction on Hard Ware Maintenance from Humanity First Institute.

Counsel Jobarteh asked the NIA, “What does Word perfect, Abode, Skype, Netpage and Configuration mean in computer”. The NIA operative replied that he does not know. Jobarteh put it to him that all that he learned at Humanity First Institute was how to put on the computer and type. The NIA maintained that he studied Information Technology on the course content of “Microsoft Word, Excel and Basic Introduction to Hardware Maintenance”. Jobarteh asked whether what he learned could qualify him to be a computer expert, he replied in the negative. On the arrest of Fatou Jaw Manneh, the NIA said he was not physically present when she was arrested at the airport. The NIA said only Fatou’s passport was confiscated from her and not her other belongings. The NIA said he did not take Fatou’s passport from her at the airport, but instead it was taken inside the car when he joined them. Lawyer Jobarteh put it to him that “you said three contradictory statements, which one is true”. The NIA denied saying any contradictory statements and maintained that he took Fatou’s passport when he joined the car that was taking Fatou from the airport to their office in Banjul.
The NIA official said one of their agents handed over Fatou’s passport to him in the car upon his request. Jobarteh then said, “You said you requested for her passport at your office in Banjul.” The Operative responded, “I did not say I requested for her passport in Banjul.” The NIA official went on to say that when he was interrogating Fatou, he first asked her about her occupation.
The case continues on Wednesday.