National Assembly Committee Refers Justice Tabally for Investigation, Reprimands GLMA Chair Over Jammeh Livestock Sale

Justice Tabally & GLMA Board Chair 

By Fatou Sillah

A Special Select Committee of the National Assembly investigating the sale and disposal of assets belonging to former Gambian president Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh has recommended that High Court judge Sheriff B. Tabally be referred for investigation over allegations of causing economic loss to the state, negligence, and dereliction of duty.

In its report tabled before the National Assembly on Tuesday, the committee called for Justice Tabally—who previously served as Sheriff of the High Court—to be investigated by both the Judicial Service Commission and the Gambia Police Force.

“Hon. Justice Sheriff B. Tabally be referred to the Judicial Service Commission and to the IGP, respectively, for investigation and appropriate action for causing economic loss to the state, negligence and dereliction of duty, and for any other offence,” the committee stated in its recommendations.

The committee’s inquiry focused on alleged irregularities in the sale of livestock seized from Jammeh following the findings of the Janneh Commission.

In addition, the committee recommended that Alieu Jallow be formally reprimanded for participating in activities at the livestock sale site without a clear legal mandate, a move the committee said contributed to a breakdown in the official process and led to procedural irregularities.

The report also raised concerns over what it described as a conflict of interest involving Jallow. According to the committee, records from January 10 show him appearing as a witness to the livestock sales despite his role as Acting Registrar General, which included responsibility for coordinating the inventory of the former president’s assets.

“His dual role as both the official responsible for assets inventory and a witness to sales of those same assets represents a clear conflict of interest and absence of proper separation of duties,” the report noted.

The committee further recommended that Ebrima Cham, chairman of the board of the Gambia Livestock Marketing Authority (GLMA), be strongly reprimanded by his appointing authority for negligence and dereliction of duty.

“Ebrima Cham, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of GLMA, should be strongly reprimanded by his appointing authority for negligence and dereliction of duty,” the committee stated.

The report also called for investigations and disciplinary action against officers of the Sheriff’s Department who were involved in the sale process.

Specifically, the committee recommended that Seedy Fatty and Modou Musa Ceesay be subjected to administrative disciplinary measures by the Judicial Service Commission, as well as criminal investigation by the Inspector General of Police within 60 days of the report’s submission.

The committee’s findings stem from a parliamentary investigation into the handling and disposal of livestock linked to the former president. According to the report, the inquiry uncovered significant gaps and inconsistencies in official records related to the management and sale of the assets, raising concerns about transparency, oversight, and adherence to established procedures.