The Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ) has called for immediate parliamentary and criminal investigations into alleged unlawful allocations of public land, citing revelations in a detailed investigative report by The Republic.
In a public statement released today, the organization expressed grave concern over the findings of “Soil for the Elites,” an investigation by Mustapha K. Darboe, Awa Macalo and Talibeh Hydara. Drawing on official allocation records, state inquiries, and interviews, the report alleges unlawful land allocations, political patronage, abuse of office, and obstruction of public oversight involving President Adama Barrow, his business interests, relatives, political associates, and other influential beneficiaries.
EFSCRJ stressed that public land belongs to the nation and must be administered under the law, with fairness and proper planning. The investigation reportedly documents multiple residential allocations in breach of the one-plot-per-person restriction under the State Lands Regulations, allocations within environmentally sensitive areas, inadequate verification of applicants, and the displacement of small businesses from land later allocated to wealthy beneficiaries. It also references state inquiries that identified unlawful land conversion, missing records, and allocations made without proper technical assessment.
These findings, the group said, provide substantial grounds for investigation, recovery of any unlawfully acquired public property, and accountability wherever wrongdoing is established.
The organization urged the National Assembly to establish a parliamentary inquiry. It argued that parliamentary oversight extends to executive conduct, including allegations involving the President and other officials. The Assembly should obtain complete allocation registers, summon responsible officials and beneficiaries, and examine whether public authority was exercised for private benefit.
EFSCRJ further called on the Inspector General of Police to open a criminal investigation and on the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to initiate an independent legal review and pursue appropriate investigative, prosecutorial and asset-recovery measures. Both offices, it said, must discharge their duties without waiting for the parliamentary process to conclude, following the evidence regardless of the status, wealth or political affiliation of those implicated.
The group urged President Adama Barrow to respond directly and comprehensively to the specific claims, supporting any response with full documentation concerning allocations to himself and Majum. It also called for disclosure of records relating to his relatives, associates, and other named beneficiaries, including eligibility criteria, approvals, intended uses, and any subsequent changes, transfers, or cancellations. A general denial, EFSCRJ stated, cannot substitute for documentary answers.
Additional demands include publishing the Tanbi and Kamalo inquiry reports and explaining the reported suspension of the land allocation audit. The organization insisted that auditors, investigators, journalists, witnesses and whistleblowers must be able to work without interference or retaliation.
EFSCRJ called on citizens and civil society organizations to read, share, and act on the revelations; petition the National Assembly for an inquiry; and press law-enforcement institutions to investigate. “Public land is our collective inheritance, and its alleged unlawful allocation concerns every Gambian,” the statement concluded.
