Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Director of Lands, Dawda Fatty, on Monday appeared before the National Assembly’s Special Select Committee investigating the assets of former President Yahya Jammeh, where he faced tough questions over the handling of properties linked to the ex-leader.
Testifying for the first time, Fatty acknowledged that the Lands Department has faced serious challenges in fully accounting for the 83 properties attributed to Jammeh.
He cited missing files, administrative delays, and conflicting directives from higher authorities as key obstacles to the process.
Fatty explained that while some of the property cancellations were carried out based on ministerial directives or court orders, others lacked proper documentation. “There were cases where instructions were given verbally or through channels outside the Ministry, which made it difficult to determine the proper source of authority,” he told the committee.
Lawmakers pressed Fatty to clarify why, nearly a decade after Jammeh’s departure, several properties remain unaccounted for.
He said the department had acted on available instructions but admitted that delays were also caused by incomplete records, pending financial settlements, and the ongoing search for missing files.
The session further exposed confusion over who had the legal mandate to authorize property cancellations.
Fatty stressed that only the Minister of Lands or a competent court could issue such orders, but some directives appeared to originate from other offices, blurring the chain of command.
Expressing concern over weak record-keeping practices, committee members urged the department to accelerate efforts to trace all properties and submit comprehensive documentation.
Fatty assured the committee that his office is continuing the verification process and will provide detailed updates on each property under review.
As the inquiry progresses, lawmakers hope the probe will finally bring transparency to the fate of Jammeh’s vast property portfolio—much of which remains untraced years after his exit from power.
