“She Had Weeks to Respond” – Journalist Who Exposed Fatima Bio’s Property Scandal Speaks

Investigative journalist Josef Skrdlik, whose report for the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) alleged that First Lady Fatima Bio and her family own luxury properties in Gambia, has responded to the First Lady’s denial of the allegations.

Skrdlik asserted that the First Lady was given ample time to address the findings of his investigation before they were made public.

“Her Excellency @FirstLadyBio might want to read my investigation first – her apparent doubts would be answered. Besides, @OCCRP shared all the findings with her on April 16. She had weeks to respond but chose silence,” Skrdlik stated.

This response comes after the First Lady dismissed the OCCRP report, which claimed she and her family acquired at least 10 properties in Gambia worth over $2.1 million. The report detailed properties in upscale neighborhoods and tourist hotspots, including a hotel under development by one of her half-brothers.

The OCCRP investigation raised questions about the sources of the First Lady’s wealth, citing property records, tax documents, and employment records that allegedly contradict claims of financial self-sufficiency.

The report also implicated a businessman, Alphonso Lakhmee King, who reportedly facilitated some of the property deals.