By Ousman Saidykhan
The defamation and false broadcasting charges against Alhagie Lowe have been dropped. Despite previously criticizing Jah Oil Company Ltd.’s cement as a “scam,” Lowe has now signed an online advertisement agreement with the same local company. This unexpected turn of events has raised eyebrows and sparked discussions on social media.
The young man publicly retracted his previous statements, referred to as “errors,” and apologized to the cement producer. He posted the apology in writing on his Facebook page and shared a video on a page called Alpha Photos Bah.
The “errors,” which led to him being charged with Defamation and False Broadcasting, were made in a video shared via Facebook reel last week, criticizing the quality of Jah Oil’s Tiger Cement against a cement brand imported from neighboring Senegal. Elijah, as he popularly called, who insisted last week that he was expressing his “disappointment and dissatisfaction” over Tiger Cement, has now apologized that his “harsh review” of the cement was “unmeasured” and “unfair to the product.”
“It wasn’t based on any scientific evidence at all. The solidified bags were not in any way responsible by the manufacturer but by the retailer. For this reason, I sincerely apologize to Jah Oil Company Ltd for the damages done to its name, all its associates, and a wide expanse of customers at large. I regret my actions by God’s truth. Whatever message one held in that video, please disregard it,” said Elijah in a statement.
Mr. Lowe’s issuance of an apology and subsequent signing of the advertisement agreement with Jah Oil has raised queries around the saga, mainly from Gambians who showed solidarity when charges were made against him.
Some alleged he was pressured to apologize, asserting that Jammeh employs similar tactics to suppress individuals’ expression of their right to freedom of speech.
One man, Ali Jagne, commented that the apology reminded him of “Jammeh’s days: forcing people against their will to issue an unwarranted apology. Keep your head up, bro. Even if you were wrong, this isn’t how to remedy bad customer feedback.”
Madi Jobarteh, a human rights defender, said, “I totally reject this forced apology and so-called clarification.”
According to him, “it is an act of torture” by the Gambia Police Force on behalf of Jah Oil. He accused the IGP of “abusing his powers and putting the name of the Gambia Police Force into disrepute by serving the selfish interests of Jah Oil.”
However, Lowe argued that people analyze things differently. “The same way some people said I was intimidated to do that apology video is the same way others, on the other hand, would say I was not.”
Elijah has also refuted claims that the advertisement agreement with Jah Oil was a condition for his charges to be dropped and that the alleged “damages” done to the company were not necessarily a financial gain for him.
He said, “The charges were dropped way before the agreement. “Well, everything done was in the interest of both parties. Alhamdulillah, I am free from all charges now.”
Lowe’s agreement with Jah Oil Company Ltd. is effective September 5, 2024. He will now promote and advertise the company’s products on his social media handles for one year.
