Major Ebrima Bah of the 1st Infantry Battalion, Yundum Barracks, has testified that he knows the 2nd accused, Capt. Yaya Darboe.
He said on 20th March 2006 on a Monday, while he was in his office as Commanding Officer of the 1st Infantry Battalion, Capt. Yaya Darboe paid him a visit. He said he asked Capt. Yaya Darbo whether he had come down to see the family, but Capt. Darboe told him that he was recalled.
He said he told Capt. Darboe that he did not receive any signal to that effect, adding that Capt. Yaya Darboe told him that he was recalled by the then CDS, Col. Ndure Cham.

Major Bah adduced that he then called Col. Ndure Cham in the presence of Capt. Darboe. He said he asked Col. Ndure Cham on the phone as to why he posted Capt. Yaya Darboe without his knowledge adding that Col Ndure Cham replied to him angrily that he could post soldiers without signal. He said he then told Capt. Darbo to go and take his office.

He informed the court that Capt. Darboe was at first posted temporarily to the 2nd Infantry Battalion at Farafenni Barrack before being put on permanent basis. He said that as transfers without signal have never happened, that of Capt. Darboe came to him as a surprise. He said as Adjutant, Capt. Darboe was responsible for correspondence and the armoury.

Still testifying, major Bah said that at some point Capt. Darboe told him that his wife was sick and that he wanted permission to go to cook, which was granted. He said he was arrested in connection to the alleged coup and detained for one week. He also said in matters of postings, the orders come from the GAF headquarter to the GNA and then to the units. Also testifying, Staff Sgt. Dam Jobe said he knows the 2nd accused Capt Yaya Darboe. He said on the 21st March 2006, he was posted at the 1st Infantry Battalion Yundum Barracks. He said while there Lt. Savage gave him a bunch of keys with instructions to give it to Capt. Yaya Darboe.

He said he went with lance corporal Colley, who knew the residence of Capt. Darboe. He added that the bunch of keys were for the armoury. On their arrival at Capt. Darboe’s, he said that they met the wife who told them that Capt. Darboe was not in. He said he then handed the keys over to the wife and asked her to surrender it to her husband when he returned.
He said back at the barracks, he duly informed the officer on duty, Lt. Savage, that he did not meet the 2nd accused, Capt. Yaya Darboe, but gave the keys to the wife. He stated Lt. Savage later called Capt. Darboe and confirmed his receipt of the keys from the wife. He said the reason for taking the keys to Capt. Darboe was that he was the Adjutant of the barracks. For his part, corporal Ajuma Camara told the court martial that on the 20th March 2006, he was deployed to the Abuko Earth Station as Guard Commander. He said he knew the 3rd accused, Capt. Wassa Camara. He said in the evening of the day in question, Capt. Wassa Camara came in and asked for one Mr Njie, adding that he called one of his guards to accompany Capt. Camara to the operator. He said from there Capt. Wassa Camara left in his vehicle.

Corporal Camara added that on the 21st March 2006, between 8 and 9 pm, Capt. Wassa Camara came back again and asked for the same Mr Njie. He said he accompanied Capt. Wassa Camara to the operator, Mr Colley, to whom he introduced Capt. Wassa Camara as his Superior who had an appointment with Mr Njie. He said Mr Colley took the phone and called Mr Njie, adding that he went out while Capt. Wassa Camara was talking on the phone.
He said he later saw Capt. Wassa Camara coming from the other side of the fence talking on his mobile before leaving. He added that later on, private Njie MA, one of the guards under him, received a call from the base informing him that there was a coup.
He said that he then woke the rest of his guards and gave them the massage they just received from the base. He said he made a phone call to private Sanneh who confirmed that some officers have been arrested. He said he told private Sanneh that Capt. Wassa Camara had been coming to the Abuko Earth Station for the past two days.

He concluded that he was arrested and made to write a statement at the NIA Office where he was detained for three days.