The investigation into the financial dealings of the former President Yahya Jammeh has found him to be acutely corrupt.
Gambia’s justice minister Abubacarr Tambadou said on Friday that country’s former president Yahya Jammeh has stolen D18, 002, 868, 789 ($362, 204, 008), also amassing millions worth of properties and businesses in and outside of the country.
The minister made the statement as the Janneh Commission presents conclusion of their investigation into the financial activities of Jammeh to President Adama Barrow on Friday.
Tambadou said the report established that Jammeh lay claims to 281 landed properties in the country and also a number of assets outside the country including his Potomac residence frozen by US authorities.
He said the investigation has found out that the former ruler’s assets at his home village of Kanilai is worth over D1 billion ($28,247,333). This is more than the country’s budget allocation to the youth ministry.
“It has now been established that the former President alone pilfered at least $21,427,254; $304, 718, 071; 29, 475, 269 Euros; and 2,250,000 Pounds Sterling. This is a staggering amount of money that could have had significant impact on the lives of the ordinary people of this country, in health, in education, in agriculture and many other priority areas. Instead, it was money used to satisfy the pretentious and delusional lifestyle of an egotistic megalomaniac; acts that were both unconscionable and criminal,” said Tambadou.
Country’s justice minister said efforts are in place to recover monies stolen by the former ruler.
“My Government will stand firm in implementing the recommendations of the commission without fear or favor,” said President Adama Barrow. The report is yet to be made public.
“We have endeavored to be as comprehensive as possible. We believe that the report will show the scale of the financial and economic damage cause by ex-president Jammeh, his close associate, family members and other corrupt and negligent citizens and foreigners. We also trust the remedies and recommendations suggested by us will be carried in due course,” said Sourahata Samega Janneh, Commission’s chairperson.
Comments are closed.