Former Attorney General: Ex-VP Ousainu Darboe Had No Role in Janneh Commission Appointments
By Fatou Sillah
Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubacarr M. Tambadou, has clarified that former Vice President Ousainou Darboe played no role in appointing members of the Janneh Commission.
Testifying before the National Assembly Special Select Committee on the sale and disposal of former President Yahya Jammeh’s assets, Tambadou dismissed claims that Mr. Darboe had influenced the appointments.
“I have heard people saying that the members of the commission and counsel were appointed by the former Vice President, Honorable Ousainu Darboe. That is not true. I personally identified Mr. SBS Janneh and offered him the opportunity to chair the Commission, and the president approved all recommended appointments,” Tambadou told lawmakers.
He stressed that the selection process was guided by strict criteria, including professional competence, integrity, and subject-matter expertise. Tambadou further emphasized that operational independence is central to the work of any commission.
The former Attorney General emphasized that operational independence is the cornerstone of any commission, ensuring that decisions are made free from government or external interference. He acknowledged that while funding arrangements may create potential pressure, they do not undermine a commission’s capacity to function independently.
Drawing comparisons, he noted that other state institutions—such as the judiciary and independent agencies—operate autonomously despite relying on budgets approved by the National Assembly. Similarly, he argued, commissions like the Janneh Commission must retain full independence to discharge their mandates effectively.
He further revealed that he personally headhunted commissioners, carefully selecting appointees who met the highest standards of competence and integrity.
“I advised the President on the choice of Commissioner Bai Mass Saine and Commissioner Abiosseh George, and the same criteria stood,” he said, adding that his recommendations—including the appointment of Secretary General Alhagie Mamadi Kurang—were subsequently endorsed by the President.