Abubacarr M. Tambadou, the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, has made it clear that the former Vice President Ousainou Darboe had no involvement in the appointment of members to the Janneh Commission.
While testifying before the National Assembly Special Select Committee regarding the sale and disposal of former President Yahya Jammeh’s assets, Tambadou refuted allegations that Mr. Darboe had any influence over the appointments.
“I have heard people saying that the members of the commission and counsel were appointed by the former Vice President, Honorable Ousainu Darboe. That is not true. I personally identified Mr. SBS Janneh and offered him the opportunity to chair the Commission, and the president approved all recommended appointments,” Tambadou told lawmakers.
He emphasized that the selection process was governed by rigorous criteria, encompassing professional competence, integrity, and subject-matter expertise. Tambadou further highlighted that operational independence is crucial to the functioning of any commission.
The previous Attorney General highlighted that operational independence is fundamental to any commission, guaranteeing that decisions are made without government or external influence. He recognized that although funding arrangements might introduce certain pressures, they do not compromise a commission’s ability to operate independently.
He drew comparisons, observing that other state institutions—like the judiciary and independent agencies—function independently even though they depend on budgets sanctioned by the National Assembly. He contended that commissions such as the Janneh Commission should maintain complete independence to fulfill their mandates effectively.
He disclosed that he took the initiative to personally seek out commissioners, meticulously choosing appointees who exemplified the utmost levels of competence and integrity.
I provided counsel to the President regarding the selection of Commissioner Bai Mass Saine and Commissioner Abiosseh George, and the same standards applied, he stated, noting that his suggestions—including the appointment of Secretary General Alhagie Mamadi Kurang—were later approved by the President.
