Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Former Lead Counsel of the Janneh Commission, Amie Bensouda, on Wednesday appeared before the National Assembly Special Select Committee as lawmakers pressed for the submission of all documents related to the disposal of assets linked to former President Yahya Jammeh.
The appearance forms part of the legislature’s ongoing inquiry into the sale, transfer, and management of assets identified by the Janneh Commission, which probed financial dealings involving public institutions and individuals during Jammeh’s rule.
The committee aims to establish transparency and accountability in how those assets have since been handled.
During the session, Bensouda defended the scope of documents she had provided, maintaining that her submissions were made in full compliance with the summons issued by the committee.
“I have produced the documents I understood were required under the remit of this committee,” she said. “If the committee wishes me to provide additional materials, I will do so, but not at my own cost.”
Her remarks highlighted a dispute over the interpretation of what documents fall within the inquiry’s mandate.
Bensouda explained that while she still retains other records from her tenure with the Janneh Commission, those materials concern matters outside the committee’s current focus, which is limited to the disposal and management of Jammeh-linked assets.
Committee members, however, insisted that a complete set of documents is necessary for their work, citing constitutional provisions that grant the committee powers similar to those of the High Court in determining the relevance of evidence.
Bensouda reiterated her willingness to comply with any lawful order but stood by her reading of the committee’s initial directive.
“I am here to assist,” she said. “I have already provided extensive documentation in two volumes at my own expense. The documents not submitted are, in my view, unrelated to the terms of reference.”
In the end, the committee ordered Bensouda to submit all remaining documents related to the assets identified by the Janneh Commission by Friday morning, stressing that the inquiry must move forward without further delays.
The ongoing probe continues to draw significant public interest, as it seeks to clarify how state assets associated with the former president were managed and whether any irregularities occurred in the process. Lawmakers emphasize that accountability and public trust remain at the heart of the exercise.
