AG Radio panelist Bura Dibba doubts the credibility of the IEC, as long as men like Joe Colley, Sambujang Njie, and Anthony Robert Secka are working for it. He was speaking during the Monday’s weekly edition of the Voice of the People programme on AG Radio.
According to him, auditors found that the IEC paid approximately D15.8 million in allowances to commissioners and staff under categories such as incentive bonuses, nomination allowances, supervision allowances, and motivational tokens.
According to the National Audit Office (NAO) and the National Assembly’s Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC), these payments were not authorized under the Electoral Service Code 2018 and were therefore considered irregular and potentially fraudulent.
Dibba says that “D301.3 million in election expenditure funds were transferred to returning officers’ personal accounts between 2021 and 2023.” Auditors said they were unable to verify how the money was spent because the IEC and the officers did not provide the requested bank statements. The auditors warned that the lack of documentation created a risk of misappropriation, weak controls, or concealment of financial irregularities.
According to Dibba, subsequent police investigations reportedly recommended corruption-related charges against former IEC chairman Alieu Momar Njai and others. Reports indicated that investigators considered the transfers of more than D301 million to private accounts and the payment of unauthorized allowances as part of the case.
While Gambians are still awaiting the prosecution of these IEC staff members, they all continue to work for the IEC with impunity. Justice delayed is justice denied.
