Mustapha Lowe, a student at the Gambia College and nephew to Col Ndure Cham, ex-Chief of Defence Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces, yesterday told the court that his uncle had left a pistol at his (Mustapha Lowe) house in Farato, Kombo North, on March 21st.

Mr Lowe made this revelation at the High Court in the ongoing March 21st foiled coup treaon trial, involving Tamsir Jasseh, Alieu Jobe, Hon Demba Dem, and Omar Keita, alais ‘Omar Faal’.

Appearing before Justice Avril Anin Yeboah at the High Court, Mr Lowe, a Primary Teacher Certificate (PTC) student at the Gambia College, told the court that on March 21st, he heard an anonymous and scary shouting of his name by someone. “I was afraid at that time but then I decided to open the door and stood beside a fence, where I asked who’s calling my name? The caller replied: It’s me, your uncle,” he recalled.

According to him, he then opened the door, because “I am familiar with his voice.” He revealed that Col Ndure Cham was in mufti. “He asked me who was with me in the room, I then replied I was alone. He then sat in my chair. As he took a seat, he was quiet and looking worried. He remained quiet for sometime without talking to me,” Mr Lowe explained.

He claimed that his uncle then pulled out a pistol from a black nylon bag and placed it on his table. “He also brought out a packet of cigarette and picked one stick, which he smoked. He then told me that he will spend the night in his house and started asking me questions. He asked me how is schooling? I said I am managing,” he narrated.

He told the court that Col Ndure Cham then gave him a brief smile and then teased him, saying “the people of Farato have taken me away from the people of Kotu- where he had once stayed with his uncle.

According to him, Col Ndure Cham received a telephone call on his cellular phone during their conversation. He explained that he overheard his uncle mentioned the word: “Arrest,” while looking worried. “I then went outside but I did not see any vehicle or a car on the highway. He was still talking on his mobile, when I returned,” Mr Lowe told the court.

He pointed out that his uncle was looking more worried, even when he finished talking on his cellular phone. “I was then thinking what went wrong. I asked him whether there is any problem, he replied in the negative. He told me that he was accused of planning a coup and has to leave the country. I started crying, when he told me about it, but he said to me it’s not necessary,” he added.

Mr Lowe claimed that Col Ndure Cham instructed him to arrange for a taxi to Darsilami the following day. “As my uncle, I accordingly negotiated for a taxi. But as I entered the house, he told me to cancel the taxi. He later asked me whether I know Alieu Lowe, whom he described to me only to realised that he is my own relative. He told me that Alieu was on the way coming and supposed to bring him something. “But, he told me to wait for Alieu at Farato Mosque, where I should pick him to my house,” he explained.

He told the court that he met Alieu Lowe at the mosque, who asked him where his uncle was. “We walked along to the house, after telling him about my uncle’s whereabout. As we entered the house, Mr Alieu Lowe started chatting with my uncle and later removed out something from his pocket that looked like a ‘Juju’. He then gave it to Col Ndure Cham. I left the house for sometimes but when I returned, I realised that Alieu Lowe was to spend the night with us. I was in my bed with Alieu Lowe. When I woke up at night, I saw my uncle sleeping in the chair. I told him to share the bed with Alieu Lowe, whilst I sleep on the carpet,” Mr Lowe said.

He disclosed that Col Ndure Cham gave him about D3,000 to change into CFA, in the morning. “After I left, he called me back and shook hands with me. At that time, he was in a white shirt, bearing an Arabic scribblings. He showed this to me. I also saw ‘Jujus’ under his shirt, when he unbuttoned it. He then told me if you dare to disclose anything about me, something dangerous will happen to you,” Mr Lowe revealed.

According to him, he changed the cash into CFA 50,000 at Brikama. “When I returned, he asked me about the situation in town, I told him everything is normal. He told me his friend was making arrangement with one of the embassies to come for him. But, he later told me that arrangement could not be possible and instead his friend will come for him. He revealed to me that his friend is Tamsir Jasseh. At this point, he asked me whether I know the man? Just then he told me that he was one time Director-General of Immigration Department. The name sound to me as a public figure,” he recalled.

Mr Lowe then continued: “He told me to wait for Mr Jasseh at a particular junction in order to direct him there. He told me to join a vehicle to Brikama, where he will meet me. Just then Tamsir Jasseh came with a white Land Rover vehicle.”

“While in Brikama I received a phone call from my uncle and he told me to join another vehicle to Darsilami, where they will meet me. While at Darsilami, they arrived and he later told me to wait. Tamsir Jasseh drove away with my uncle to an unknown place,” Mr Lowe added.

During crossexamination ,Lawyer Lamin Camara, the Counsel for Tamsir Jasseh asked Mustapha Lowe when he was arrested, Mr Lowe replied it was on 25th March 2006, and subsequently taken to the NIA, before been transferred to the State Central Prisons, where he is currently detained.

The trial continues today.