Amie Bensouda, the former lead counsel of the Janneh Commission, appeared on Thursday before the National Assembly Special Select Committee that is investigating the sale and disposal of assets belonging to former President Yahya Jammeh. What started as standard testimony quickly escalated in intensity as lawmakers urged her to provide copies of the monthly fee notes she had submitted to the Ministry of Justice.
The request, put forth by Hon. Kebba Lang Fofana, elicited a strong response from Ms. Bensouda, who characterized it as an act of “bullying.” She inquired why it was necessary for her to obtain documents from the Ministry when the committee has the power to request the records directly.
“You know what I call bullying?” she said. “To insist that I should produce documents, and if I can’t find them, I should go to the Ministry of Justice and ask for the document, when it is this committee that has the power to summon the Ministry of Justice to bring those documents, I called that bullying. I have no power over the Ministry of Justice, why should I be asked to write to the Ministry of Justice to produce documents?” she asked.
Ms. Bensouda clarified that all fee notes were directed to and managed by the Ministry of Justice, which took care of her payments. She mentioned that she might have kept copies, but clarified that any originals would stay with the ministry. She assured that she would consult her accountant and send along any copies that her firm still had on hand.
Committee members, however, insisted that if her office lacked the documents, she should acquire them from the ministry. Ms. Bensouda raised an objection to that directive, emphasizing that the documents were government property and that the committee possessed the authority to request them.
“I do not think that is correct. I do not think that is right and is bullying,” she said.
In response, Committee Chairman Abdoulie Ceesay stated that the directive aimed to guarantee equal treatment for all witnesses. The lead counsel for the committee stated that procedural questions could be tackled as they emerged.
The lead counsel for the committee indicated that once the order is issued, any future matters can be handled as they come up.
Ms. Bensouda clarified that their office does not retain the original fee notes, and any documents provided would be copies of those submitted to the Ministry of Justice. The witness thus requested that the committee revise its order to permit the submission of copies of the available documents.
“The fee notes are not in our possession; they were sent to the government so we can get paid,” she clarified.
She was subsequently directed to provide any copies of the fee notes that she had in her possession.
She clarified that payments were directed to her firm’s account rather than her personal account, and that her involvement with the Janneh Commission was in her individual capacity as Amie Bensouda, not as a representative of her law firm.
Amie Bensouda, the former lead counsel of the Janneh Commission, appeared on Thursday before the National Assembly Special Select Committee that is investigating the sale and disposal of assets belonging to former President Yahya Jammeh. What started as standard testimony quickly escalated in intensity as lawmakers urged her to provide copies of the monthly fee notes she had submitted to the Ministry of Justice.
The request, put forth by Hon. Kebba Lang Fofana, elicited a strong response from Ms. Bensouda, who characterized it as an act of “bullying.” She inquired why it was necessary for her to obtain documents from the Ministry when the committee has the power to request the records directly.
“You know what I call bullying?” she said. “To insist that I should produce documents, and if I can’t find them, I should go to the Ministry of Justice and ask for the document, when it is this committee that has the power to summon the Ministry of Justice to bring those documents, I called that bullying. I have no power over the Ministry of Justice, why should I be asked to write to the Ministry of Justice to produce documents?” she asked.
Ms. Bensouda clarified that all fee notes were directed to and managed by the Ministry of Justice, which took care of her payments. She mentioned that she might have kept copies, but clarified that any originals would stay with the ministry. She assured that she would consult her accountant and send along any copies that her firm still had on hand.
Committee members, however, insisted that if her office lacked the documents, she should acquire them from the ministry. Ms. Bensouda raised an objection to that directive, emphasizing that the documents were government property and that the committee possessed the authority to request them.
“I do not think that is correct. I do not think that is right and is bullying,” she said.
In response, Committee Chairman Abdoulie Ceesay stated that the directive aimed to guarantee equal treatment for all witnesses. The lead counsel for the committee stated that procedural questions could be tackled as they emerged.
The lead counsel for the committee indicated that once the order is issued, any future matters can be handled as they come up.
Ms. Bensouda clarified that their office does not retain the original fee notes, and any documents provided would be copies of those submitted to the Ministry of Justice. The witness thus requested that the committee revise its order to permit the submission of copies of the available documents.
“The fee notes are not in our possession; they were sent to the government so we can get paid,” she clarified.
She was subsequently directed to provide any copies of the fee notes that she had in her possession.
She clarified that payments were directed to her firm’s account rather than her personal account, and that her involvement with the Janneh Commission was in her individual capacity as Amie Bensouda, not as a representative of her law firm.
