Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, the Gambia)- The Janneh Commission, established by President Adama Barrow, conducted a thorough investigation into the financial dealings of former dictator Yahya Jammeh. The commission focused on the years 1994 to 2016, when Jammeh was ousted from power. After completing their findings, the commission seized assets belonging to Jammeh and sold them. They then submitted a detailed report of their findings to President Barrow. This report shed light on the extent of Jammeh’s corruption and potentially helped to bring justice to those affected by his actions.

Several years later, the allegations of fraud, and mismanagement of the dealings of the Commission emerged following an investigative report by The Republic, an investigative watchdog in the country.

This followed by a protest by young Gambians demanding transparency on how Jammeh’s assets were sold. Which led to the establishment of a Special Committee by the National Assembly.

During Monday’s public hearing of the Special Select Committee, Ms. Ramatoulie Sarr, former Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice and Acting Secretary of the Janneh Commission, admitted she served in one of the country’s most sensitive national inquiries without a formal appointment letter, without a Terms of Reference (TOR), and with zero documented transfer of duties.

Sarr, who was grilled for hours by committee members, revealed that she was “verbally deployed” from her role as Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS) to serve as Secretary to the Commission,  a move that was neither documented nor followed by any official discharge from her substantive post. When asked whether she had formally relinquished her DPS role, Sarr admitted there was no letter relieving her of her former duties, raising the question of whether she abandoned her post illegally.

“You did not receive a single formal communication from any person … So can we say you neglected your post as DPS?” the Counsel Lamin Dibba questioned, pressing her on the apparent administrative vacuum.

According to her testimony, Sarr acted on verbal directives, and was repeatedly reminded by Counsel that as a “seasoned administrator,” she should have demanded proper documentation. She confessed that no TOR was issued to guide her duties at the Commission, despite her occupying the highest administrative office there.

Even more alarming, Sarr told the committee that letters meant for the Commission were frequently sent directly to the Legal Counsel’s office, bypassing the Secretariat entirely, a serious breach of protocol. She testified that she verbally complained about this to the Commission Chairman, but was never formally included in the meeting where the issue was reportedly resolved.

Counsel appeared stunned when Sarr admitted that a meeting was held to discuss administrative irregularities at the Commission, without her presence, even though she was the acting Secretary. “It is abnormal for a Secretary not to be in a meeting. Why were you not in the meeting?” Counsel Dibba asked. Sarr responded with uncertainty, eventually saying she was “not invited” and had “other administrative tasks,” a reply that drew visible frustration from the panel.

Throughout the session, Sarr was repeatedly chastised for accepting abnormal procedures without challenging them. She verbally requested an appointment letter and TOR but never followed up in writing. Dibba bluntly observed: “Was that why you were placed as Secretary to the Commission, because you don’t ask questions and just do as ordered?”

The revelations raise serious concerns about the legality of administrative processes at the Janneh Commission, a national body tasked with investigating the financial crimes of former President Yahya Jammeh and his associates. Sarr confirmed she only received a copy of a letter referencing her “full-time responsibility