Sometimes, it is not difficult…
So, former justice minister Abubakarr Tambadou’s name was on several social media sites in the past hours as having sold ex-president Yahya Jammeh’s assets. I wasn’t sure what to think about it. Some people so personalized it as he did it discreetly without the notice of the Cabinet or the President.
What is though a matter of public records is the following: The asset recovery process (I mean recovering assets Janneh Commission found to have been stolen by Jammeh) was officially sanctioned by Cabinet with Presidential approval. It was Gambia government that solicited the support from the World Bank assets recovery committee.
Here is a quote from the Position Paper: “It was also discovered that former President Jammeh, during his tenure in office, had accumulated at least 131 known landed properties registered in his name or in companies and foundations in which he has shares or an interest; and that he operated at least 89 private bank accounts directly or through the aforesaid companies or foundations.”
Tambadou made a presentation before National Assembly in June of 2020 on the disposal of Jammeh’s assets. I cannot say whether assets were sold at a better price or not. I cannot make comment on the matter in substantive details as to whether corruption could be involved. However, I have the list submitted to parliament and I have no facts beyond what was presented before lawmakers.
According to that data, 32 properties were sold out of a total of 288, representing just over 11% of the total number of properties recovered. What happens to the rest of the assets? President Adama Barrow reportedly gave a written approval for the establishment of a Ministerial Committee, chaired by Tambadou, to oversee the sale of these properties. Additional approval for the disposal of the properties was also given by Cabinet through the Government White Paper which is a public document.
For journalist who were at the parliament when Tambadou made the presentation, he said they recovered, through the sales of those assets D1.3 billion dalasis from the sale of those 32 assets.
It is now the job of journalists to look into this and see if corruption could have taken place, whether assets were disposed off at the right price or whether they were sold to friends etc. What is clear was that it was a decision by cabinet, approved by President Adama Barrow and executed by Abubacarr Tambadou.
And the finance ministry was involved. An account was created at the Central Bank where these funds were reportedly lodged. Now, the question to ask for any journalist who does not wish to confuse himself is this: where is the D1.3 billion Dalasis raised from the asset recovery process which was lodged in a Central Bank Account? We know through Tambadou that a D50 million was taken from this money and given to TRRC as part of reparations.
In fact, TRRC was promised D100 million and for those who attended the Commission’s first press conference on the issue of the reparations, they made it clear that the second D50 million never came. I have looked at the past budgets, and perhaps, I missed it but I did not see as part of revenue to state, mentioned is made of this D1.250 billion.
Also, it was with the knowledge and approval of the President, the Justice Ministry, acting on behalf of The Gambia Government, requested for and provided all the required evidence which culminated in the recent seizure of Jammeh’s Potomac property by the US Government.
Janneh Commission was a state-sanctioned investigation. White Paper was a document approved by the cabinet. So, for me, it is downright ridiculous to suggest Tambadou made the White Paper, got Cabinet to approve it without reading, sold assets all by himself, got finance ministry to create an account at the Central Bank and put the money there, give TRRC D50 million and keep the rest there. That makes no sense.
The vital question for the media is to delve into the details of the transactions and see whether corruption could have taken place. And also ask the finance ministry to tell the public where the rest of the money (D1.250 billion) went. But also, to explain what will happen to the rest of the assets.
In this business, it is important not to be carried away by sentiment. The corrupt count on our stupidity to loot. Being busy over nothing is one thing the Gambia can’t afford.
So, former justice minister Abubakarr Tambadou’s name was on several social media sites in the past hours as having sold ex-president Yahya Jammeh’s assets. I wasn’t sure what to think about it. Some people so personalized it as he did it discreetly without the notice of the Cabinet or the President.
What is though a matter of public records is the following: The asset recovery process (I mean recovering assets Janneh Commission found to have been stolen by Jammeh) was officially sanctioned by Cabinet with Presidential approval. It was Gambia government that solicited the support from the World Bank assets recovery committee.
Here is a quote from the Position Paper: “It was also discovered that former President Jammeh, during his tenure in office, had accumulated at least 131 known landed properties registered in his name or in companies and foundations in which he has shares or an interest; and that he operated at least 89 private bank accounts directly or through the aforesaid companies or foundations.”
Tambadou made a presentation before National Assembly in June of 2020 on the disposal of Jammeh’s assets. I cannot say whether assets were sold at a better price or not. I cannot make comment on the matter in substantive details as to whether corruption could be involved. However, I have the list submitted to parliament and I have no facts beyond what was presented before lawmakers.
According to that data, 32 properties were sold out of a total of 288, representing just over 11% of the total number of properties recovered. What happens to the rest of the assets? President Adama Barrow reportedly gave a written approval for the establishment of a Ministerial Committee, chaired by Tambadou, to oversee the sale of these properties. Additional approval for the disposal of the properties was also given by Cabinet through the Government White Paper which is a public document.
For journalist who were at the parliament when Tambadou made the presentation, he said they recovered, through the sales of those assets D1.3 billion dalasis from the sale of those 32 assets.
It is now the job of journalists to look into this and see if corruption could have taken place, whether assets were disposed off at the right price or whether they were sold to friends etc. What is clear was that it was a decision by cabinet, approved by President Adama Barrow and executed by Abubacarr Tambadou.
And the finance ministry was involved. An account was created at the Central Bank where these funds were reportedly lodged. Now, the question to ask for any journalist who does not wish to confuse himself is this: where is the D1.3 billion Dalasis raised from the asset recovery process which was lodged in a Central Bank Account? We know through Tambadou that a D50 million was taken from this money and given to TRRC as part of reparations.
In fact, TRRC was promised D100 million and for those who attended the Commission’s first press conference on the issue of the reparations, they made it clear that the second D50 million never came. I have looked at the past budgets, and perhaps, I missed it but I did not see as part of revenue to state, mentioned is made of this D1.250 billion.
Also, it was with the knowledge and approval of the President, the Justice Ministry, acting on behalf of The Gambia Government, requested for and provided all the required evidence which culminated in the recent seizure of Jammeh’s Potomac property by the US Government.
Janneh Commission was a state-sanctioned investigation. White Paper was a document approved by the cabinet. So, for me, it is downright ridiculous to suggest Tambadou made the White Paper, got Cabinet to approve it without reading, sold assets all by himself, got finance ministry to create an account at the Central Bank and put the money there, give TRRC D50 million and keep the rest there. That makes no sense.
The vital question for the media is to delve into the details of the transactions and see whether corruption could have taken place. And also ask the finance ministry to tell the public where the rest of the money (D1.250 billion) went. But also, to explain what will happen to the rest of the assets.
In this business, it is important not to be carried away by sentiment. The corrupt count on our stupidity to loot. Being busy over nothing is one thing the Gambia can’t afford.
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DAILY NEWS FROM BJL THE GAMBIA,12/05/2021:
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