Africa-Press – Gambia. The National Assembly Joint Committee, comprising the Finance and Public Accounts Committee and the Public Enterprise Committee, has recommended that the Attorney General initiate criminal proceedings against all individuals implicated in the $30 million petroleum scandal involving Russian oil.
In its report, the committee emphasized that “the Attorney General should initiate criminal proceedings against all persons found wanting.”
The report also calls for sanctions against Access Bank and Ecobank for breaching prudential risk guidelines in connection with the scandal. “Access Bank and Ecobank be sanctioned for breaches of prudential risk guidelines.”
Additionally, the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) has been urged to launch both internal and criminal investigations into possible collusion and regulatory violations by officials at Access Bank.
“The CBG should initiate internal and criminal investigations into potential collusion and regulatory breaches by Access Bank officials. Where complicity is confirmed, individual officers must be prosecuted under anti-money laundering and financial crime statutes,” the report noted.
The committee further recommends that a special inquiry be conducted by the Petroleum Commission and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to determine whether undue privileges were granted exclusively to Apogee FZC.
“A special inquiry should be conducted by the Petroleum Commission and PURA to establish the basis upon which ullage privileges were granted exclusively to Apogee FZC,” the report said.
Moreover, the report asserts that any public officials, including depot executives and Ministry staff, who facilitated deviations from established procedures without Cabinet approval, should be held personally accountable.
Stating “any public officials, including depot executives or Ministry staff, who facilitated this departure from established norms without Cabinet-approved policy direction must be held personally liable for abuse of office.”
The committee also recommends that GamPetroleum be prohibited from entering into any agreements with Apogee Gambia Ltd. If any such contract currently exists, it should be immediately terminated.
“GamPetroleum should not enter into any agreements with Apogee Gambia Ltd., and if any contract is entered into between GamPetroleum and Apogee Gambia Ltd., the said agreement should be terminated immediately,” the report said.
In addition, the report advises that Mr. Yerro Jallow be placed on administrative leave, pending review by the Minister of Justice. The report alleges that Mr. Jallow misled the committee during sworn testimony.
“All submissions made to the Joint Committee under oath by Mr. Yerro Jallow be reviewed, and criminal perjury proceedings be initiated against him by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice for deliberately misleading the Assembly.”
Finally, the report underscores that non-compliance with these resolutions will attract serious repercussions.
“Failure to comply with these resolutions shall attract consequences, including administrative sanctions, suspension, dismissal, or criminal prosecution as applicable,” The Report Said.
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