“Yes, that is true,” Tabally responded when quizzed on whether his team conducted the sales without knowing what they were selling. The stunning confession has reignited public outcry over irregularities in the disposal of seized properties following the Janneh Commission’s findings.
Testifying under oath, Justice Tabally admitted to inconsistencies in sale records submitted to the committee, standing firmly by his report of 724 sales in contrast to the 438 on record. “The records appear to be incomplete,” Tabally conceded. “But I stand by my report.”
Despite failing to explain the missing 286 sales, when asked to retrieve the original handwritten records, Tabally requested more time, citing limited access and cooperation from court staff, and his own vacation.
A forensic look at the sales documents revealed glaring errors and contradictions. For example, one record showed 94 cattle sold at D13,000 each, yet the total was logged as D1.5 million instead of the correct D1.2 million. Another entry showed a cow sold for as low as D909, while others fetched up to D16,000 all under the vague label of “cow.”
When asked about the wild price variations, Tabally said, “Maybe depending on the size too I don’t know. I have no expertise.” Instead, he said the office relied on a man named Mr. Kora, whose actual authority or credentials remain unclear.
He said the Sheriff’s Office executed court orders for the sale of cattle and other assets without having an inventory of what was to be sold.
This absence of basic documentation raises questions of legality, professionalism, and accountability.
“You just went ahead and sold without knowing what you were selling?” one lawmaker asked bluntly. “Yes, that is true,” Tabally replied, adding that an inventory would have helped guide them if it had ever been provided.
It turns out an inventory did exist, but Tabally claimed it was never shared with his office.
Justice Tabally was also asked to provide statements for his personal bank accounts from 2018 to 2019, amid suspicion over deposits and interest accrued from sales. He claimed one account had been dormant for a decade and promised to provide the Trust Bank statements, though he seemed unfamiliar with interest calculations.
Despite millions deposited in court accounts, committee members noted that no interest appeared in the available statements. “I’m not familiar with how the bank calculates interest,” he said.
Even basic records from the Sheriff’s Office were in question. Files lacked reference numbers or proper identification, and the former Sheriff admitted he drafted reports from memory after inquiries without referring to the official documents.
“It seems maybe there were no records… or somebody didn’t take them seriously,” counsel remarked.
The committee has since ordered Tabally to retrieve the missing handwritten records and submit verified bank statements – a race against time to trace millions in public assets that may have vanished into thin air.
