The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Honourable Dawda A. Jallow, informed the members of the Nation Assembly that the total value of the stocks and movable and immovable property that Former President Jammeh had previously owned was one billion two hundred and forty million and fifty thousand five hundred and ninety-three dalasis (D1, 240, 52,593).
The honourable minister disclosed this information in answer to questions posed by honourable Almamy Gibba during a National Assembly session. The questions asked for specifics on the total sales of assets connected to former president Yahya AJJ Jammeh. These assets included land, Vision 2016 Rice, cattle (cows, sheep, and camels), machinery (tractors), cars and trucks, furniture, gold, and any other valuable assets that were connected to Jammeh. The questions also asked for details on the buyers’ names, the price of each asset sold, and the total sales of all of these assets combined.
Three distinct phases were involved in the sale of 36 homes. Minister Jallow revealed that the total amount of movable and immovable properties and equity sold is one billion two hundred and forty million and fifty thousand five hundred and ninety-three dalasis (D1, 240, 52,593). The number of movable properties sold is 36, the number of vehicles sold is 6, and so on.
He went on to say that the sale of these properties started in March 2019 after the Janneh Commission’s report was submitted and approved by the government. The Janneh Commission suggested that a ministerial task force and a technical team be assigned to supervise the sale of Jammeh and his allies’ forfeited properties.
“The white paper was gazetted in September 2019 in compliance with Section 203 of the 1997 Constitution. The ministers of justice, local government, lands, tourism and culture, and agriculture formed the ministerial task force. The task force was tasked with determining what should happen to the properties that former president Jammeh and his associates forfeited, as suggested by the Janneh Commission. The task force was assisted by a technical team that included the Solicitor General and permanent Secretaries for the relevant ministries,” he stated.
He said that Alpha Capital Advisory assumed control as the receiver for the properties the interministerial task force had recommended for sale in July 2019.
The properties put up for sale comprised 44 owned by President Jammeh, 15 properties that Baba K. Jobe had forfeited to the state, and 7 properties that General Saul Badjie had given to the state. Eleven properties were deemed reserved for possible utilisation by the government. Close offers are made during the sale process, and reserved prices are established by independent, qualified valuers’ valuations,” he stated.
A special website was established, and newspaper ads were run, to guarantee openness and broad participation. There were three stages to the auction: internet information was made available, and bid forms may be found at certain places. Formal letters detailing the property information, bid amounts, and payment deadlines were sent to the successful bidders.
The Auction took place in stages. September 4, 2019 is phase one; October 7, 2019 is phase two; and November 18, 2019 is phase three. The auction details were made available on the internet to promote participation. Forms for bidding were available at a specific office. The property, bid price, and saving-based payment date were all outlined in official letters that the successful bidders received, he added.
Minister Jallow recognised the difficulties encountered by buyers, which the Attorney General’s office quickly resolved, sometimes resulting in refunds and cancellations. Notably, eviction notices were served on occupied properties to facilitate a seamless changeover.
Significant reimbursements were given for Yundum Citrus Products, No. 26 Buckle Street, Hamza Barracks, and property retention because of budgetary limitations and delays in verifying site dimensions. In order to facilitate a seamless transition for the empty post, eviction notices lasting at least six months were issued for the properties that were sold but still had inhabitants, he said.
He clarified that the commission was not involved in the rice sales, but rather that the Sheriff sold the livestock and sheep in accordance with the commission’s orders, resulting in sales of about D8 million.
The Janneh Commission sold the tractors, and the money received was placed into the Central Bank’s asset recovery account. Jammeh’s Kanilai home still has furniture, and no gold recovery has been documented.
Hon. Gibba questioned the minister during the meeting regarding the number and kinds of animals sold. In response, the minister clarified that it was difficult to get this information because the sales took place during the commission’s now-completed term.
“I tried my best to get that data back, but we weren’t able to get it. If this Assembly is interested in that, maybe you can do a parliamentary inquiry,” he said.