The former registrar of companies, Alieu Jallow, has come under renewed scrutiny in his third appearance before the National Assembly’s Special Select Committee probing the sale and disposal of assets belonging to ex-president Yahya Jammeh.

In a tense session, he provided fresh details about the controversial sale of cattle from the former president’s farms, revealing that over 400 animals were slaughtered shortly after Jammeh left office.

He claimed that a military officer, Major Gebril Jammeh, was responsible for the slaughter, which took place at farms in Kanilai, Farato, and Banjulingding.

According to him, a total of 634 cattle were officially recorded during an inventory at the Kanilai farm.

Though Mr Jallow initially maintained that he served only as an observer during the cattle sales, which ran from 9 to 30 January 2018, further questioning revealed a deeper level of involvement.

He admitted helping gather cattle, taking part in the sale process, and signing official documents, including a letter he claimed to have signed without fully understanding its contents.

When pressed by committee counsel Ajie Sainey Kah, Mr Jallow struggled to recall who else was present during the transactions.

“I can’t remember, except for the sheriff, but he was absent on some days,” he said.

The committee also questioned Mr Jallow about his communication with the Office of the Sheriff.

While he denied speaking directly with the sheriff, he confirmed discussions with Modou Musa Ceesay, a member of the sheriff’s office, raising further inconsistencies in his testimony.

“You clearly overstepped your role,” Counsel Kah said, criticising Mr Jallow’s hands-on involvement in the sales.

But he Jallow defended his actions, saying: “I was just a young man helping during the sale.”

He also spoke about Mr Kora, who joined the team during the sales after presenting himself as a livestock expert.

He admitted recommending Kora’s approval and later contacted him to “calm down” following public backlash.

He insisted Kora was only brought in to assist.

The committee has since requested Mr Kora’s contact details for further investigation.

By Adama Makasuba