By Biran Gaye
The National Assembly’s Special Select Committee on the Janneh Commission Asset Sales has delivered a scathing rebuke of government accountability.
Their new report calls for criminal investigations into former Attorney General Ba Tambedou and a formal reprimand of the current Attorney General, Dawda Jallow.
The committee accuses both of “systematic and deliberate violation” of the law and blames “executive failure” at the very top.
Committee Chairperson Hon. Abdoulie Ceesay presented the findings after four months of public hearings and a review of thousands of documents. The report runs 324 pages.
Ceesay didn’t mince words. He called this a “rare and serious opportunity” for Parliament to tackle “systemic failures, institutional weaknesses, and significant financial discrepancies” in the handling of assets seized from former President Yahya Jammeh.
“This isn’t just about paperwork errors. This is fraud, committed in plain sight,” Ceesay said during the debate. He urged colleagues to read the sections on land sales.
“The evidence is damning,” he warned. “If you want to have a heart attack, read those sections.”
Abuse of Power at the Top
The report lays out how both the former and current Attorney Generals failed in their constitutional duties. They were found to have mishandled the sale and recovery of Jammeh’s assets.
For instance, the committee found that key reports were left unsigned, yet still discussed by Cabinet. The asset recovery process, they say, bypassed the Ministry of Finance and operated outside the law.
“When unsigned reports are discussed at Cabinet, that’s not just careless. It’s a fundamental breakdown of governance,” the Member for Kiang West said.
“The top legal officer broke the law. We expected this to be fixed, but it never was.”
The findings are blunt: Ba Tambedou “set up a financial system that ignored the constitution and the law.” His successor, Dawda Jallow, “refused to correct the mistakes.”
Tambedou is also accused of threatening criminal action against the Finance Minister, simply for demanding legal compliance. The report calls this “distasteful, unethical, and an abuse of office.”
“The top legal officer broke the law. We expected this to be fixed, but it never was.” National Assembly Member for Kiang West, Lamin Ceesay.
Calls for Criminal Investigations
The committee’s recommendations are some of the strongest ever made by Gambian lawmakers. They want:
- Immediate criminal investigations into former Attorney General Baa Tambedou. The charges would include violating the Public Finance Act 2014, abusing his office, and committing economic crimes.
- A formal reprimand for Attorney General Dawda Jallow. The committee says he “perpetuated and validated unlawful administrative arrangements.”
- The urgent overhaul of the Asset Management and Recovery Corporation (AMRC). They warn against dissolving the institution while there are still concerns about a cover-up.
“We can’t just ignore this,” one member said. “Parliament must make sure every recommendation is followed up. The days of impunity are over.”
A Call for Transparency and Reform
During debate, members praised the committee for its professionalism and the open, public nature of the hearings. Proceedings were broadcast live as senior officials faced tough questions.
“This is what an independent committee looks like,” Abdoulie Ceesay said. “Let’s work together to get this country back on track.”
Parliament has adopted the report. The committee will now draft resolutions and give regular updates on progress.
The country is waiting to see what the executive will do. But the National Assembly’s message is clear.
As one member puts it: “We need the courage to face the truth and restore integrity to our public offices. The people expect nothing less.”
