The Special Select Committee investigating the disposal of ex-President Yahya Jammeh’s assets erupted over what it called a “serious breach” of accountability.
Secretary Njie, summoned to provide documents on the Ministerial Task Force implementing the Janneh Commission’s findings, stunned the committee by declaring on July 16 that his office held “no records” related to the probe. Yet, under fierce cross-examination by Lead Counsel Lamin Dibba yesterday, he made the following admission.
“I found it in a closed PRC (private and confidential) file,” Njie said.
Lead counsel, Dibba then asked: “The documents, which include the establishment minutes of the Ministerial Committee, its reports to Cabinet, and internal correspondence, items that were explicitly requested in the June 10th summons but were deemed untraceable for 35 days?”
Njie insisted he spent “two weekends” (four days) searching through massive archives, blaming the failure on missing reference numbers.
However, Dibba challenged this defence, stating that the committee had given Njie’s office 10 days to comply and since Njie’s response came 35 days late and no request for an extension was made, Dibba deemed this situation “unacceptable.”
In his defence, the witness acknowledged that despite having three records offices that use “weigh-books” to track documents, he admitted: “I did not search all three weigh-books.”
He revealed that since assuming office in 2023 (two years ago), “there has not been any action point or discussion on the Janneh Commission.”
Moreover, Njie conceded that confidential files were not checked initially, calling it “difficult” without references.
However, Dibba retorted: “It is unreasonable to expect Parliament to know your internal references!”
“We are furious!” Dibba charged, accusing the Cabinet Office of “wasting time” and causing “serious impediments in searching records,” highlighting Njie’s contradictory statements: “Your letter was conclusive: no records. Today, you have records. Which is which?”
When Njie referred to the delay as a result of “confusion,” Dibba shot back: “This committee is indeed furious. Your office has failed the people of The Gambia.” He emphasised that the Clerk of the National Assembly had to personally ‘WhatsApp’ the summons after Njie’s office “lost” it, exposing systemic record-keeping failures at the highest level.
Njie concluded with a regrettable remark: “I deeply regret it.”
But the committee remained unconvinced.
Chairperson Hon. Abdoulie Ceesay challenged the witness regarding the documents being classified as confidential within a “PRC file,” arguing that since the Janneh Commission held public hearings, its documents and cabinet conclusions shouldn’t be confidential.
Mr. Njie defended the practice, stating that the PRC file was restricted to senior personnel to prevent misplacement and ensure proper record-keeping, implying that confidentiality was necessary.
However, the chairperson remained skeptical, questioning whether placing those documents in a PRC file was standard procedure and expressing strong disapproval of an official letter that the witness had sent to the committee, deeming it inappropriate.
In conclusion, the committee requested all files from the Janneh Commission from the cabinet, including weigh-books and other relevant documents. They warrant a temporary rejection of the reports provided by Mr. Njie until the requested documents are submitted to assess his testimony.
