Parliamentary Committee Recommends Criminal Probe for Ex-Minister Ba Tambadou, Reprimand for Dawda Jallow

Ba Tambadou, former Minister of Justice, and Dawda A. Jallow, Current Justice Minister

By Staff Writer

A Special Select Committee of the National Assembly of The Gambia has called for criminal investigations and urgent institutional reforms following a parliamentary inquiry into the handling and disposal of state assets linked to former President Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh.

The findings, detailed in a 324-page report released today, paint a stark picture of systemic governance failures, weak coordination among state institutions, and serious administrative lapses in managing assets identified by the Janneh Commission. Investigators highlighted widespread deficiencies in record-keeping, unclear oversight responsibilities, and multiple cases where public property was disposed of without proper legal authority.

Among the report’s most consequential recommendations, the Committee urged the Executive, through the Police and under the supervision of the Director of Public Prosecutions, to institute criminal proceedings against former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubacarr M. Tambadou. The allegations include systematic violations of the Public Finance Act 2014, abuse of office, and economic crimes.

The Committee also recommended that the current Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dawda A. Jallow, be formally reprimanded for perpetuating administrative arrangements deemed unlawful under the prior administration.

Finally, the Committee called for immediate reforms to the Assets Management and Recovery Corporation (AMRC), proposing that it be reconstituted and strengthened to fully carry out its statutory duties within six months. Failing that, lawmakers should consider introducing legislation within three months to repeal the AMRC Act altogether.

“The inquiry has exposed deep-seated weaknesses in the way public assets have been handled post-Jammeh,” the report stated. “Swift action is required to restore accountability, prevent further mismanagement, and reinforce public confidence in state institutions.”

The report’s release comes amid broader efforts by The Gambia government to address corruption and recover assets improperly acquired or mismanaged during Mr. Jammeh’s two-decade rule, a legacy that has continued to challenge governance even years after his departure.