By Mustapha Darboe
President Barrow has rejected an offer of resignation from Justice Minister Aboubacarr Tambadou on Wednesday, presidential spokeswoman Amie Bojang Sissoho said on Thursday.
Tambadou was the subject of calls for resignation after an audio recording of his brother Sheriff Tambadou was leaked in which he was heard making certain “unfortunate” statements regarding the NIA 9 trial of which he was a prosecutor.
Sheriff later clarified that he was merely referring to a statement his brother made at his first press conference saying his office was not ready, capacity-wise, to deal with the case.
“Aboubacarr Tambadou felt very strongly about the audio leakage and offered his resignation to President Barrow yesterday… However, having carefully considered the resignation, the President rejected it because of the trust and confidence he has in Minister Tambadou’s professional integrity in handling his work,” she said.
Sheriff was instructed to hold the meeting with Ndura Jawara, the wife of the first accused Yankuba Badjie, on a plea bargain when he was secretly recorded.
Badjie is standing trial with eight others over the killing of an opposition activist Solo Sandeng. They denied wrongdoing.
The justice minister, at a press conference later, declined to comment on his rejected offer of resignation.
Declaration of assets
Bojang further informed journalists that the expected asset declaration by ministers on July 15 has been postponed to July 29.
“Some cabinet members have submitted their assets but others have asked for an extension… President gave them two weeks,” Bojang said.
She said the assets declaration will be made to the Ombudsman.
