Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – What began as a routine hearing ended dramatically on Thursday when the National Assembly’s Special Select Committee ordered the arrest of former Registrar General Alieu Jallow, following hours of testimony that left committee members visibly frustrated.
Mr. Jallow’s detention marks the second consecutive arrest in two days at the ongoing parliamentary inquiry into the sale and disposal of assets belonging to former President Yahya Jammeh.
On Wednesday, the same committee, acting through Counsel Ajie Sainey Kah, had ordered the arrest of Sergeant Adama Jagne for contempt.
The committee is investigating how Jammeh’s seized properties, including estates, farmlands, and business holdings, were sold or managed after the Janneh Commission’s recommendations.
However, Thursday’s proceedings quickly grew tense as Counsel Kah pressed Jallow on inconsistencies between his previous and current testimonies regarding documents he had submitted to the committee.
During questioning, the former Registrar General appeared uncertain about the origin and authenticity of several records—at times claiming the files came from his laptop and, at other moments, suggesting they were obtained from the Sheriff’s Office.
He further admitted to signing a sales report “without reviewing it,” saying he had trusted the officers involved—an admission that drew visible concern from committee members.
The tension deepened when Jallow denied having digital copies of the documents in question, only for a replayed recording from his earlier testimony to contradict his claim. That contradiction proved decisive.
Maintaining her composure but with evident frustration, Counsel Kah stated that the committee had been “patient enough” and could no longer overlook misleading testimony from a key witness. She immediately applied for Jallow’s arrest—an application the committee chair granted without hesitation.
In remarks following the order, the chair emphasized that the arrests underscore the committee’s resolve to ensure all witnesses provide truthful and complete information.
He warned that any attempt to mislead the committee would not be tolerated, reaffirming the panel’s commitment to uncovering the full truth about the sale and management of former President Jammeh’s assets.
The back-to-back arrests of Adama Jagne and Alieu Jallow highlight the committee’s determination to uphold accountability and transparency in one of the most closely watched inquiries since the Janneh Commission’s findings.
