Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Former Lead Counsel of the Janneh Commission, Amie Bensouda, appeared before the National Assembly’s Special Select Committee on Wednesday morning, where a tense exchange emerged over the procedure for validating a statement prepared from her earlier interview with investigators.
The committee, chaired by Hon. Abdoulie Ceesay, explained that the document in question was a summary of Bensouda’s responses during her interview with the Human Investigations Team. Members emphasized that, as part of standard parliamentary procedure, witnesses are required to review, confirm, and sign such summaries before they are adopted into the official record.
Bensouda, however, questioned the approach, stating that she could not sign a document she had not personally reviewed in full.
“I would like a copy of the transcript,” she said. “When I read the transcript alongside the summary, I can then satisfy myself that it truly represents what I said during the interview. Without that, I find it difficult to sign a statement purporting to be mine.”
Committee member Hon. Kebba Lang Fofana defended the practice, referring to Section 108 of the Constitution, which empowers the National Assembly to regulate its own proceedings.
“This is not a court of law,” he stated. “What we take as a statement is a summarized version of the interview, and witnesses are at liberty to edit, remove, or add anything they deem necessary.”
Bensouda maintained that her rights as a witness include the privilege to ensure accuracy before signing.
“Under the Constitution, I have the same privileges as a witness before the High Court,” she argued. “I cannot be required to sign a statement summarized by investigators without reviewing the transcript of what I actually said.”
Following discussions, the committee agreed to grant Bensouda access to the full transcript. She will review the transcript within the Assembly building, compare it with the prepared summary, and make any necessary corrections before signing.
Counsel for the committee acknowledged the Assembly’s tight schedule but confirmed that Bensouda would be given the morning session to complete her review before proceedings resume in the afternoon.
The session concluded on a cooperative note, with Bensouda expressing appreciation for the committee’s decision.
The Janneh Commission of Inquiry, established in 2017, investigated the financial activities and assets of former President Yahya Jammeh and his associates.
Bensouda served as the commission’s lead counsel, helping uncover extensive mismanagement of public resources. Her appearance before the Special Select Committee forms part of ongoing parliamentary oversight regarding the handling and recovery of assets linked to the former president.
