Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, the Gambia) – National Assembly Member for Kiang West, Lamin Ceesay, has said the report of the National Assembly’s Special Select Committee investigating the disposal of assets linked to former president Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh reveals serious fraud and legal violations in the government’s handling of the recovered properties.
Speaking during a debate on the report at the National Assembly of The Gambia, Ceesay argued that the findings point to deliberate wrongdoing rather than mere administrative errors.
“This report revealed a lot. They are not administrative lapses. It is not a violation of law alone. You have seen frauds deliberately in broad daylight in this report,” he told fellow lawmakers.
Praise for Transparent Hearings
Ceesay commended the Special Select Committee for what he described as a transparent investigative process, noting that the hearings were broadcast live through the Assembly’s digital platforms, including YouTube and Facebook.
He said the public access to the proceedings helped strengthen accountability and allowed citizens to follow the inquiry into the management and disposal of assets linked to Jammeh after his departure from power.
Questions Over the Asset Management Process
Despite the praise, the Kiang West lawmaker expressed deep concern over aspects of the report related to the management and disposal of landed properties connected to the former president.
Ceesay cited irregularities involving the establishment of an inter-ministerial task force and the procedures used in overseeing asset recovery.
He accused former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubacarr Tambadou, of failing to follow proper procedures in setting up the body that handled aspects of the asset recovery process.
According to Ceesay, evidence presented before the committee showed that an inter-ministerial task force report discussed at Cabinet level was not signed.
“The committee received both technical and interministerial reports, but none of the witnesses could produce a signed copy,” he said, describing the submission of such a document to Cabinet as “unusual and improper.”
Financial Procedures Under Scrutiny
Ceesay also criticized the handling of financial arrangements relating to the recovered assets.
He noted that the committee found a commercial bank account had been opened outside the official government treasury framework to manage proceeds from the assets.
According to him, the committee concluded that the arrangement violated provisions of the Public Finance Act governing public funds.
The report, he added, recommended criminal investigations into the actions of Tambadou for alleged abuse of office and other economic crimes.
Concerns Over Missing Landed Properties
The Kiang West lawmaker further raised concerns about several landed properties linked to Jammeh that were reportedly identified during investigations but were not presented before the commission responsible for examining the former president’s finances.
He questioned the current status of those assets and who currently controls them.
“This country needs to know under whose custody these lands are presently,” Ceesay said.
He listed several locations mentioned in the report, including Bakau, Farato, Senegambia, and Lamin.
Call for Accountability
Ceesay also cited evidence suggesting that a receiver involved in the sale of some of the properties made profits exceeding 100 million dalasi.
He urged the government to implement the committee’s recommendations and ensure accountability for any wrongdoing uncovered during the inquiry.
“Let’s join hands to put this country on track,” he said.
The Special Select Committee was established following an extraordinary session of the National Assembly to investigate the handling of assets identified by the Janneh Commission, which had earlier probed the financial dealings of Jammeh after the end of his rule in 2017.
Leave a Reply