By Fatou Dahab
A 2018 Cabinet decision imposing a moratorium on the sale of assets linked to former President Yahya Jammeh remains in effect, stalling their disposal, the Special Select Committee on the Sale and Disposal of Assets Identified by the Janneh Commission was told on Wednesday. Cabinet Secretary Alieu Njie, testifying before the committee, confirmed that the decision, documented in a letter dated July 3, 2018, continues to block the sale of assets, including tractors, pending further Cabinet instructions.
The committee’s inquiry, held at the National Assembly in Banjul, delved into the ongoing delays in disposing of assets recovered from the former president, as identified by the Janneh Commission. Mr. Njie, who assumed the role of Cabinet Secretary in January 2023, told the committee that the file on the matter remains “open and active,” with no official policy reversal issued since the Cabinet’s decision on June 21, 2018.
“The file is not closed,” Njie stated, emphasizing that the moratorium, referenced in the 2018 letter found in Volume 44, still holds. The letter, which the committee noted bears no confidentiality classification, was described as central to understanding the prolonged inaction on asset disposal. Committee members pressed Njie on the broader moratorium outlined in Folio 96, which extended the freeze to all assets identified by the Janneh Commission.
When asked whether this broader moratorium remains in force, Njie admitted uncertainty, saying, “I don’t want to say I don’t know, but I have no idea about that.” Lead counsel Dibba followed up, asking, “So, we agree that there are still assets?” He further probed, “What is the moratorium still on?” Njie committed to reverting to the committee with clarification after reviewing relevant records.
Committee members underscored the implications of the open file, with Hon. Kebba Lang Fofana asserting, “You cannot put a moratorium on the sale of assets unless there are still assets to be sold.” The statement highlighted the committee’s frustration with the lack of progress in disposing of Jammeh’s assets, which include properties, vehicles, and other holdings identified by the Janneh Commission as illicitly acquired during his 22-year rule.
The Janneh Commission, established in 2017 to investigate financial misconduct under Jammeh’s regime, recommended the recovery and sale of his assets to benefit the state. However, the committee’s probe has revealed persistent delays, raising questions about transparency and compliance with the commission’s recommendations. The 2018 moratorium, intended as a temporary measure, has effectively frozen the process, leaving valuable assets unsold and prompting scrutiny over the government’s handling of the matter.
Lead counsel Dibba made an application through the committee chair for the submission of critical documents to aid the investigation. These include reports submitted to Cabinet by Ministries, Departments, and Institutions referenced in Legal Notice number 15 of 2017, as well as any minutes, conclusions, or additional records related to deliberations on these reports. The committee hopes these documents will shed light on the decision-making process and the reasons behind the continued moratorium.
Njie confirmed his participation in Cabinet meetings addressing asset-related matters since taking office but could not provide immediate details on the status of specific deliberations. The committee’s ongoing inquiry is expected to further explore issues of transparency, accountability, and potential administrative bottlenecks that have hindered the disposal process.
As the investigation continues, the committee’s findings could have significant implications for public trust in the government’s commitment to addressing the legacy of Jammeh’s financial misconduct. The unresolved status of the assets, coupled with the lack of clarity on the moratorium, underscores the challenges of implementing the Janneh Commission’s recommendations nearly a decade after its establishment. The committee adjourned with plans to review the requested documents and continue probing the handling of Jammeh’s assets, aiming to ensure that justice and accountability prevail.
