Alhaji Mamadi Kurang, former secretary to the Janneh Commission, has raised concerns over the expansive role allegedly played by Lead Counsel Amie Bensouda, suggesting she frequently operated beyond her official legal remit during the inquiry into former President Yahya Jammeh’s assets.

Testifying before the National Assembly Select Committee on Thursday, his second appearance, Kurang said Bensouda’s influence extended into administrative and financial matters that were not typically under the purview of legal counsel.

“If there was to be any overlap, my only concern was that the lead counsel was everywhere, into everything,” Kurang told lawmakers.

He pointed to Bensouda’s direct dealings with the Attorney General as an example of her reach within the Commission, noting that even issues his secretariat couldn’t resolve were often handled successfully by the lead counsel.

“Some things, even when we couldn’t get them done, the lead counsel would get them done,” he said.

Kurang, who headed the Commission’s secretariat, said the Janneh Commission was structured into three main units: the legal and investigative team, the secretariat, and the commissioners.

He described his role as primarily administrative, acting as liaison between commissioners, legal counsel, and the public.

“The commissioners did not deal directly with the public. Communications, letters, or suggestions were routed through me,” he said.

He explained that while the legal team, comprising state and non-state attorneys, investigators, and proofreaders, operated under Bensouda, her role sometimes overlapped with his, raising questions about internal boundaries.

The Select Committee is continuing its inquiry into how the Commission operated and whether its processes adhered to legal and institutional standards in recovering and managing Jammeh-era assets.

By Adama Makasuba