President Rejects Justice Minister’s Resignation

Adama Barrow, president of Gambia, has rejected the resignation of Justice Minister, Abubacarr Tambedou, reports say.

Reports say that the president is apparently convincing the minister to rescind his decision to quit over a controversy involving his elder brother.

The minister handed in his resignation as his brother Sheriff Tambedou become enmeshed in a controversy over a leaked audio in which he was heard talking to the wife of a former spy chief and eight others who are on trial for the murder of election reform activist Solo Sandeng in April last year.

The elder Tambedou has since recused himself from the case as a state prosecutor following heavy criticism and spirited calls for his resignation.

Amie Bojang-Sissoho, President Barrow’s press aide said that Ba Tambedou’s resignation was rejected on the grounds that the Gambian leader still reposes enough trust and confidence in him to handle the country’s justice portfolio, despite the controversy surrounding his elder brother.

Highly-placed sources in government claimed Tambedou has since rescinded his offer of resignation after a meeting with President Barrow on the issue.

The Tambedou brothers were reportedly concerned about a leaked audio of a private conversation between Ndura Badjie, the wife of detained former spy chief Yankuba Badjie and Sheriff Tambedou as prosecutor.

What appeared to be Sheriff Tambedou’s voice could be heard saying his brother, the Justice minister was irked by the idea of prosecuting the case.

The audio quickly went viral, sparking debates on social media, with Gambians calling on Sheriff Tambedou to recuse himself from the case given that his integrity has been compromised.

His resignation as prosecutor was announced on state media on Tuesday.

Mrs. Badjie has not commented since the audio went viral.

Yankuba Badjie and co were accused of carrying orders from former president, Yahya Jammeh in a spate of killings with political opponents and journalists among the victims.

Some remains were exhumed months ago as investigations opened into alleged crimes committed through the course of the past 22 years when Jammeh was in power.