Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Supreme Court of The Gambia will tomorrow, 14 October 2025, begin the preliminary hearing of a lawsuit filed by former Auditor General Modou Ceesay against the Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Mr. Ceesay was forcefully removed from office on 11 September 2025 by members of the Gambia Police Force (GPF), a day after he publicly rejected a ministerial appointment announced by President Adama Barrow.
On 10 September, State House announced a cabinet reshuffle in which Trade Minister Baboucar Ousmaila Joof was reassigned to the Ministry of Defence, while Mr. Ceesay was appointed as the new Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment.
Cherno Amadou Sowe, then Director of Internal Audit, was named Auditor General in his place, with Masireh K. Drammeh appointed Acting Director of Internal Audit.
The reshuffle sparked widespread condemnation from Gambians at home and abroad, with many alleging that the presidency sought to shield corruption exposed by the Auditor General’s office. Some commentators and civil society figures urged Mr. Ceesay to reject the ministerial post and remain in his constitutional role.
Mr. Ceesay subsequently issued a public statement in his office declining the appointment, stressing his commitment to continue serving as Auditor General “in diligently executing the functions conferred on him by the Constitution.” Shortly after, armed police officers entered the National Audit Office and removed him from his post.
In response, Mr. Ceesay filed a lawsuit challenging what he described as his “unlawful” removal. He is seeking several declarations from the Supreme Court, including:
That the actions of the Attorney General (1st Defendant) and IGP (2nd Defendant) in ordering or permitting police officers to enter the Audit Office and forcibly remove him violated sections 158, 159, 160, and 169 of the 1997 Constitution.
That their actions also contravened sections 3(2), 11, 13, 14, and 16 of the National Audit Office Act, 2015.
That his removal from office was unconstitutional, unlawful, and therefore null and void.
Reliable sources have confirmed that the case will come before a single judge of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow, for the preliminary hearing.
The Gambia Journal will continue to follow the case closely and provide updates from the Supreme Court proceedings.
