Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The National Assembly’s Special Select Committee investigating the sale and disposal of assets belonging to former President Yahya Jammeh has ordered the arrest of Sergeant Adama Jagne for allegedly concealing information, tampering with witnesses, and misleading the committee.
The decision followed weeks of hearings into the controversial sale of vehicles and other assets identified by the Janneh Commission, which completed its work in 2019.
Lawmakers said they discovered that some vehicles linked to Jammeh’s frozen assets were sold as recently as 2025, raising fresh concerns over accountability and possible mismanagement.
During the session, committee members accused Sergeant Jagne of persistently withholding crucial details despite having appeared before them five times.
“Every single time you appear before this committee, you are not honest. You fail to tell the committee everything you know,” one visibly frustrated member said.
Under questioning, Jagne admitted that his name appeared in several vehicle sale transactions but claimed he was acting on the instructions of a certain Mr. Saidybah.
He further confessed to handling D300,000 in cash, of which he received D20,000 as compensation for his role. He also acknowledged speaking to at least two individuals who were later called to testify before the committee.
Lawmakers expressed grave concern that Jagne not only failed to disclose key information but also contacted witnesses ahead of their scheduled appearances.
“You have been speaking to witnesses who were supposed to appear before this committee,” another member remarked. “You have been selling vehicles associated with the former president, and you deliberately failed to disclose this information despite multiple opportunities.”
Following these revelations, the committee’s legal counsel invoked Sections 109 and 110 of the 1997 Constitution, along with Orders 102 and 140 of the National Assembly Standing Orders and the National Assembly Powers and Privileges Act, to move for Jagne’s arrest.
“I am making an application for the Sergeant-at-Arms of this National Assembly to arrest Mr. Adama Jagne for violating the National Assembly Powers and Privileges Act by concealing information, tampering with witnesses, and misleading this committee,” the counsel declared.
The motion was swiftly adopted, and the Committee Chair ordered immediate enforcement.
“I hereby order the Sergeant-at-Arms of the National Assembly to arrest Mr. Adama Jagne and deliver him to the custody of the Gambian Armed Forces and the Military Police,” the Chair announced.
The Minister of Justice was instructed to ensure that all necessary legal steps are taken to execute the order. The Chair also warned that any law enforcement or public officer who obstructs the arrest would be held in contempt of the National Assembly.
The arrest order marks one of the most decisive actions by a parliamentary committee in recent years, underscoring the legislature’s growing resolve to ensure transparency in the management of Jammeh-era assets and accountability in ongoing public investigations.
The Special Committee’s inquiry will continue with testimony from other individuals named in Jagne’s statement, including Mr. Saidybah and other officers allegedly involved in the unauthorized sale of vehicles.
