Former Attorney General and Justice Minister Abubacarr M. Tambadou has demanded a public apology from investigative journalist Mustapha K. Darboe over allegations published in a 2025 report by The Republic concerning the disposal of assets linked to former President Yahya Jammeh.

In an open letter, Tambadou described several claims made in the investigation as “false and defamatory”, arguing that the publication wrongly portrayed him as acting unlawfully and dishonestly in decisions related to the management and sale of Jammeh-linked assets.

The article, published in April 2025 and titled “The Assets of Gambia’s former dictator go for a song”, alleged among other things that Tambadou manipulated a court decision, acted alone in unfreezing Tourism Development Area lands, unlawfully terminated a court-appointed receiver, and influenced property-related decisions.

Tambadou denied the allegations, insisting that the decisions referenced in the article were collective government actions involving Cabinet, a ministerial taskforce and other state authorities.

He argued that the publication ignored clarifications and evidence he had provided before the article was published.

According to Tambadou, the report caused serious reputational damage and subjected him and his family to public hostility, online abuse and professional consequences.

He also accused Darboe of failing to properly verify information before publication and described the reporting as irresponsible journalism disguised as investigation.

“It is evident that you either did not read the relevant parts of the Janneh Commission report or deliberately chose to mislead the public,” Tambadou stated in the letter.

The former justice minister, however, reaffirmed his support for press freedom and recalled his role in media law reforms during his time in government, including the removal of criminal defamation laws.

Tambadou said he is demanding a public apology, correction or removal of the disputed claims within 14 days.

The Republic’s investigation into the disposal of Jammeh’s assets triggered widespread public debate and later contributed to the establishment of a National Assembly Special Select Committee to investigate the matter.

By Adama Makasuba