Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, The Gambia) – After the appearance of Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dawda Jallow, his colleagues in the government, Ministers Hamat NK Bah and Musa Drammeh, have been summoned to appear before the National Assembly’s Special Select Committee investigating the sale and disposal of former President Yahya Jammeh’s assets, as identified by the Janneh Commission.
This comes as the parliamentary inquiry, established in the wake of The Republic’s investigative exposé into the fate of Jammeh’s extensive assets, enters its second week of public hearings.
The report, which unveiled inconsistencies and alleged irregularities in the management and sale of the assets, sparked widespread public outrage and street protests, prompting lawmakers to act.
In the first week of hearings, the Committee heard testimonies from Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dawda Jallow, former Janneh Commission Chairman Sourahata Janneh, and the Commission’s former Secretary Alhaji Mamadi Kurang.
Their accounts shed light on the Commission’s recommendations and raised questions about the subsequent handling of the recovered properties, cash, and businesses associated with the Jammeh era.
Ministers Bah and Drammeh, who were both involved in overseeing state agencies or had administrative roles during or after the commission’s mandate, are expected to clarify their roles in the post-commission implementation process.
Their testimonies could offer insights into whether there was proper oversight and accountability in managing the assets once they were placed under government control.
Sources close to the inquiry also confirmed that former Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou—who was instrumental in setting up the Janneh Commission during the early phase of the Barrow administration—and former Lead Counsel Amie Bensouda are expected to testify in the coming days.
The Janneh Commission, formally known as the Commission of Inquiry into the Financial Activities of Public Bodies, Enterprises and Offices as regards their dealings with former President Jammeh, documented massive corruption, illicit enrichment, and misuse of state resources during Jammeh’s two-decade rule.
It recommended asset recovery and prosecution for certain individuals, but critics have accused the government of wrongly handling the sales and disposal of many assets and properties seized from Yahya Jammeh.
This latest parliamentary probe aims to determine what became of the seized assets amid allegations of mismanagement and lack of transparency.
The Committee’s work is being closely followed by civil society groups, victims of the former regime, and international partners.
The hearings are scheduled to continue at the National Assembly chambers on Monday.
