Africa-Press – Gambia. Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubacarr M. Tambadou, has told the National Assembly Special Select Committee on the sale and disposal of former President Yahya Jammeh’s assets that the Janneh Commission’s reliance on the Ministry of Justice for funding and logistics did not compromise its independence.
Continuing his testimony before the committee, Mr. Tambadou explained that the commission depended on the ministry for vehicles, office equipment, and supplies. The ministry, he said, provided drivers, heavy-duty photocopying and printing machines, and other logistical support. He further revealed that the commission’s lead counsel, Amie Bensouda, contributed additional resources from her law office at no cost.
According to Tambadou, financial autonomy was not initially considered a priority because the commission was established as a temporary body expected to operate for only three months. “The lack of financial autonomy does not impinge on the commission’s independence at all,” he stated.
The committee’s lead counsel challenged Mr. Tambadou’s assertion, arguing that the commission was required to go through the Ministry of Justice for even the most basic items, such as stationery, bottled water, and pens. She noted that each request had to pass through multiple layers of government approval, a process that often caused delays and limited the commission’s ability to function independently.
In response, Tambadou conceded that reliance on the ministry occasionally led to delays but emphasized that staff frequently made personal sacrifices to ensure smooth operations. He added that both he and the commission’s lead counsel intervened when necessary to expedite requests.
The former attorney general further explained that, although funds for transitional justice were included in the national budget, the allocations were often insufficient and not immediately available, as disbursements depended on government revenue. He argued that even with a separate budget, the commission would still have had to navigate procedural hurdles due to the nature of government financing.
Despite these administrative challenges, Tambadou maintained that the Janneh Commission preserved its operational independence and effectively fulfilled its mandate.
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