In the ongoing ordinary session of the National Assembly, Almami Gibba, the member for Foni Kansala, requested that the Defense Minister, Serign Modou Njie, provide an update to Parliament on the status of the investigation into the alleged theft at the former residence of ex-President Yahya Jammeh in Kanilai, which now houses the Fourth Infantry Battalion.
The theft, reported on September 20, 2023, allegedly resulted in the disappearance of nine medium-sized TV screens, two washing machines, three deep freezers, ten dining chairs, a large mattress, and all VIP suits (coats). In his query, the MP for Foni Kansala emphasized that ex-President Yahya Jammeh’s former residence had been converted into a military barracks with guard posts.
In response, Serign Modou Njie indicated that the Ministry of Defense has directed the Gambia Armed Forces’ High Command to convene a board of inquiry to conduct a thorough investigation into the issue. He assured the Assembly that the report would be presented to Parliament as soon as the board had completed its investigation.
“My ministry has directed the high command of the Gambia Armed Forces to appoint a board of investigation to look into the allegations of theft at the former president’s Kanilai house. The report will be shared with this august assembly once the board has completed its findings,” he assured the assembly.
Some National Assembly members questioned the inquiry’s objectivity, believing that because the theft occurred in the presence of soldiers, turning over the case to the military would be inappropriate.
Omar Jammeh, the representative for Janjanbureh, raised concerns that because the ex-president’s residence was secured by the military (particularly the Gambia Armed Forces), it might not be prudent to have the Gambian Armed Forces lead the investigations.
Minister Njie responded by stating that the board had already been established and that its members were recruited from diverse institutions. Any appropriate member of the board could be co-opted to provide information if necessary.
Lamin Ceesay, National Assembly Member for Kiang West, inquired whether the minister confirmed the alleged theft on well-guarded premises. The minister confirmed that the incident was reported and that the board is investigating to ensure its accuracy.
Almamy Gibba inquired about the timeline for the military probe, which might last five to six months. The minister assured Gibba that the board would seek Gibba’s assistance in gathering information for ongoing inquiries.
