Africa-Press – Gambia. Suharata B.S. Janneh, former chairperson of the Janneh Commission, appeared before the National Assembly’s Special Select Committee on the sale and disposal of assets belonging to former President Yahya Jammeh, offering detailed testimony on the dismissal of the commission’s former secretary, Alhagie Mamadi Kurang.
Janneh addressed a petition Kurang had filed during the commission’s work, in which Kurang accused lead counsel Amie Bensouda of selectively questioning witnesses, alleging conflicts of interest involving AB & Co Law Firm, and citing what he believed were lapses in Bensouda’s professional judgment.
Reading from the commission’s report, Janneh recalled a confrontation between Kurang and Bensouda just months after the commission began its public hearings. He described Kurang’s language during the exchange as “unacceptable.”
“I can say it again, the manner in which he spoke was unacceptable,” Janneh told the committee. “Because I can tell you, I am one of those people who could never ever address a lady in the manner in which Kurang addressed Bensouda on that day.”
Janneh emphasized that the commission lacked the authority to resolve the matter, saying only the president — who had appointed both officials — could intervene.
Tensions rose during the hearing when lead counsel to the committee, Lamin Dibba, pressed Janneh to comment on a letter sent from the secretary to Bensouda. Janneh initially declined, saying he would not comment on a document he had not seen. Dibba responded by warning that refusal to answer could amount to contempt of Parliament.
“Not answering these questions I’m about to put to you could amount to contempt, learned senior,” Dibba said.
“Reminding me of that is not proper,” Janneh replied. “Because you do not expect a man like me not to read the parliamentary rules, and you will go according to the rules as stated here.” The committee later took a five-minute break to produce the document for him.
Janneh testified that his primary aim during the commission’s tenure had been to mediate between Kurang and Bensouda, adding that he believed the dispute had been resolved at the time. He described their exchanges as heated, at times “almost violent,” and characterized Kurang as “the most aggressive” in those confrontations.
“They had an almost violent quarrel, I put it down together with the two commissioners,” He Said.
He further suggested that Kurang’s petition may have been linked to his disagreements with Bensouda. “His words toward Ms. Bensouda were uncalled for,” Janneh said.
According to Janneh, Bensouda eventually told authorities that either she or Kurang would have to leave the commission — a decision that fell to the Attorney General. Janneh said the AG asked him privately, “Who do you think is more useful to the commission? Not personality, is it the secretary or the lead counsel, and I said at this stage, the legal counsel, and that was the only question he asked me by telephone,” but stressed that he never told the AG he could not work with Kurang.
He concluded by acknowledging that Kurang performed his duties “as well as the lead counsel,” despite their disagreements.
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