Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The government has suspended Sainabou Martin, Chief Executive Officer of Kerewan Area Council and former CEO of Kanifing Municipal Council, on half salary pending further investigations arising from the Local Government Commission of Inquiry. Several other council CEOs who appeared before the Commission have also been suspended under similar conditions.
Martin and several Council CEOs have been directed to stay away from work with immediate effect but will continue to receive 50 per cent of her current salary.
The suspension does not amount to dismissal or a determination of guilt, according to a letter issued by the Local Government Service Commission and signed by its Secretary, Mucktarr M.Y. Darboe.
The Commission said the decision was taken pursuant to a government directive and in accordance with Section 118 of the Local Government Act 2002, the Local Government Service Commission Regulations 2003, and the General Orders.
The suspension is intended to pave the way for several parallel processes, including disciplinary proceedings before the Local Government Service Commission, possible surcharge proceedings by the Auditor General, and economic crime investigations by the Attorney General’s Chambers. A fitness review will also follow.
Restrictions and Disciplinary Proceedings
Under the suspension conditions, Martin has been ordered to surrender all council property in her possession, including any official vehicle, office keys, files, records, and computer equipment, within 24 hours of receiving the letter.
She is also prohibited from entering Kerewan Area Council premises without written permission, interfering with council records, staff, or witnesses, or leaving The Gambia without prior authorization from the Commission.
The letter requires her to remain available to the Commission, the Auditor General, and the Inspector General of Police throughout the investigations.
The Commission has undertaken to serve her with the charges and supporting evidence within 21 days, after which she will have the opportunity to respond in writing and appear before a disciplinary panel. She may be accompanied or represented during the hearing.
Her suspension will be reviewed every 90 days and either lifted or determined as the proceedings progress.
Other Former and Serving Council Officials Affected
Martin is not the only senior local government official affected by the government’s decision. Several other CEOs who appeared before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry have also been suspended on half pay pending further investigations.
Sheriffo Sonko, former chairman of the Brikama Area Council, who now serves in the foreign service, is also expected to face a similar suspension.
The measures signal a broader effort to pursue administrative and potential criminal accountability arising from the Commission’s findings across local government institutions.
However, the government has maintained that the suspensions are protective measures intended to safeguard public funds, records, and the integrity of ongoing investigations, rather than findings of wrongdoing.
The affected officials remain entitled to respond to allegations against them, with the eventual outcome dependent on the disciplinary, audit, and investigative processes.
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