Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Former Chairperson Surahata B.S. Janneh, the man behind one of the country’s most famous investigations, returned to the National Assembly’s Special Select Committee. The Janneh Commission, set up in 2017, investigated the assets of former President Yahya Jammeh. Its work remains one of the most important steps in The Gambia’s efforts to recover state property.
During the session, Janneh was firm and at times unyielding, refusing to answer certain questions and avoiding old controversies.
“I am not here to discuss counsel’s behaviour,” he said when asked about disagreements among staff during the Commission. “If my secretary misbehaved, I am not discussing that.”
He insisted that the Commission worked independently, even when asked about interference or outside pressure. “We were not influenced by anyone,” Janneh said. “We did our work according to the evidence before us.”
A major point of discussion was the sale of farming equipment linked to Jammeh. Janneh acknowledged that some people tried to influence the sales but said the Commission resisted all pressure. “Some people wanted a certain process,” he said, “but the Commission refused.”
Janneh also expressed frustration over appeals made by former officials at the High Court. “As far as I am concerned, the High Court has no jurisdiction to hear those appeals. They should have gone to the Supreme Court,” he said. He described the situation as “unfortunate, but outside our control.”
He firmly rejected suggestions that a later version of the Commission’s report corrected mistakes. “I do not accept any October report. The April report is the only correct one,” he said.
When asked about other personal or internal disputes, Janneh repeatedly refused to answer. “I am not going into that,” he said. Committee members warned this could be seen as contempt, but Janneh did not change his stance.
Despite the tense moments, Janneh defended the Commission’s work. “We did our job independently. Whatever disagreements existed among individuals do not change the truth of our findings,” he said.
His appearance at the Assembly has reignited public discussion about the Commission’s work, alleged pressures from outside, and legal challenges, issues that continue to shape debate years after the inquiry concluded.
