By Sainabou Sambou
The Supreme Court of The Gambia has received a writ from former Auditor General Modou Ceesay challenging his removal from office. Ceesay calls the action unconstitutional and unlawful. He has filed against Attorney General Dawda A. Jallow and Inspector General of Police Seedy Muctarr Touray.
In his 32-page document, Ceesay asks the court to use its original jurisdiction under Sections 158, 159, 160, and 169 of the 1997 Constitution. He also cites Sections 3(2), 11, 13, 14, and 16 of the National Audit Office Act, 2015.
Ceesay says President Adama Barrow appointed him Auditor General in November 2022, following the rules in Section 158 of the Constitution. He explains that the law allows removal only for inability to perform duties, misconduct, or incompetence. It must follow due process, including a tribunal review.
Ceesay states that his problems started after he began several audits. These included a forensic National Food Security, Processing, and Marketing Company (NFSPMC) audit. He also started a compliance audit of the Ministry of Lands. Another was an audit of tax revenue for 2023 and 2024.
He alleges the President worried about the timing. Barrow said the audits could hurt his political campaign. Ceesay says he was called to the State House many times. There, the President personally asked him to delay or stop the audits.
Ceesay adds that his office met resistance in other audits. During the NFSPMC forensic audit and the statutory audit of the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG), officials blocked progress. In one meeting, Ceesay was with the President, Chief of Staff, and CBG officials. He claims they pressured him to drop audit queries. These queries had delayed a D1.2 billion payment to the government.
He further says the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) and a private firm refused to share database records. Ceesay requested them under Section 14(e) of the Audit Office Act. He alleges the President backed their refusal.
On August 24, 2025, Ceesay says the President called him to the State House again. Barrow urged him to halt the audits of the Ministry of Lands, GRA, and NFSPMC. Ceesay did not stop. He kept working on the government’s audit reports for 2021–2023. These were due to the National Assembly by September 30, 2025.
On September 10, 2025, Ceesay was again called to the State House. The President thanked him for his work. Then, Barrow offered him a new Minister of Trade, Regional Integration, and Employment job. Ceesay took a sealed appointment letter back to his office. He read it and decided to decline. He told the President he wanted to stay as Auditor General.
Ceesay says the President insisted he take the job. Barrow said a replacement Auditor General had already been appointed. He added that the announcement was public.
That same night, at 11 p.m., Chief of Staff Drammeh and National Assembly Member for Sabach Sanjal came to Ceesay’s home. They asked him to change his mind. Ceesay refused. On September 11, 2025, he sent a formal letter declining the offer, copying it to senior government officials.
Despite the letter, Ceesay says police removed him from his office on September 15, 2025. The officers acted on orders from the President and Inspector General of Police Saidy. The removal was forceful.
In court, Ceesay asks the Supreme Court to declare his removal unconstitutional. He argues it broke Sections 158, 159, 160, and 169 of the 1997 Constitution. He wants the court to order his reinstatement. He also seeks damages and an injunction against his replacement.
The case is assigned to Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow. A hearing is set for October 22, 2025. Government lawyers have not yet responded. Ceesay’s Lawyers said his client stands by every claim in the writ.
This constitutional case is likely to test the independence of the Auditor General’s office. The court will review whether the proper process was followed. If Ceesay wins, he will return to work. If he loses, the removal will stand.
