Africa-Press – Gambia. The former Justice Minister, Abubacarr Tambadou has revealed that Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)’s report provided the government with the crucial evidence needed to secure a freezing order for Yahya Jammeh’s assets.
Tambadou who was also former Attorney General made the revelation yesterday to the National Assembly’s committee investigating the handling of former President Yahya Jammeh’s assets
In his testimony, Tambadou described the FIU report as the “smoking gun” that enabled the government to act on the former president’s assets, including bank accounts, landed properties, vehicles, and livestock. He explained that prior to receiving the report the assets were not a top priority for the newly formed government in early 2017, which was focused on maintaining governance, security, and national stability following a tense political transition.
Tambadou recalled that the government faced multiple challenges during that period, including political pressure from supporters of former officials and reports of asset dissipation, such as cattle being moved to Senegal or vehicles found in state properties. “We had enough substantiation to go to court with, and that allowed us to freeze all the assets,” he said, noting that the scale and scope of the assets were initially unclear.
He emphasized that the FIU report, alongside verbal reports from ministers and public officials, formed the basis for the government’s actions. “Through the FIU report, we had sufficient evidence to use to freeze the assets,” Tambadou told the committee. He highlighted that the report’s findings were incorporated into discussions within Cabinet, which informed the legal processes that followed.
On the question of operational oversight, Tambadou acknowledged that some institutions, including the Registrar General’s office, did not fully execute their responsibilities in implementing court orders. He accepted political responsibility for any institutional failings but clarified that the ministry had to balance the urgency of action with limited resources and the broader challenges of governance during a transitional period.
Tambadou further explained that the government’s approach prioritized the protection of state property and assets while ensuring that investigations and asset management did not compromise public order. “Some of the cattle and vehicles were presumed to belong to the state until proven otherwise,” he said, underlining the practical measures taken to safeguard these assets.
The witness is expected to continue his testimony Tuesday before the committee to examine whether proper notices and operational measures were taken to ensure the smooth management and preservation of Jammeh-era assets.
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