Africa-Press – Gambia. Amie Bensouda, former Lead Counsel of the Janneh Commission, has warned the National Assembly’s Special Select Committee that it is exceeding its authority in probing the sale and disposal of assets identified by the Commission.
Testifying yesterday before the committee, Bensouda repeatedly emphasized that the committee’s mandate was limited and that broader demands for documents fall outside its remit.
“Your power is limited to your terms of reference in relation to an inquiry into a specific matter. Nevertheless, if you make the order, I will comply with it. But that doesn’t mean I agree,” Bensouda told the panel, signalling measured resistance while affirming her compliance with formal orders. She stresses that the committee is “not a committee at large”, and its scope is restricted to the disposal of specific assets, not the full records of the Janneh Commission.
Bensouda detailed the careful process she undertook in producing documents, explaining that she provided all materials she considered relevant to the inquiry at her own expense. She argued that requests for unrelated documents—those beyond the sale and disposal of the identified assets—were unnecessary and outside the committee’s legal authority.
The former counsel also highlighted her professional discretion in determining what to submit. She clarified that while she would comply with committee orders, she was not agreeing that every document demanded was relevant or within their mandate. “I am a witness, and if you order that I put this document, I will, because you have a power to do so. But that doesn’t mean the order is right,” Bensouda remarked.
The testimony comes amid heightened scrutiny of the committee’s operations and its interpretation of its powers under the National Assembly’s standing orders. Bensouda’s comments suggest a tension between her understanding of the legal boundaries and the committee’s expansive approach to accessing Commission records.
As proceedings continue, the committee is expected to review her submissions and clarify the scope of its investigative powers. Bensouda’s testimony marks a clear warning that while she will cooperate with the committee, she remains cautious about any attempt to extend its reach beyond constitutionally sanctioned limits.
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