Banjul, 19th April 2024
The Judiciary has been made aware of recent assertions made in the publication “FPAC to send a warning letter to Judiciary for Contempt” by the Point Newspaper and some media houses. The Judiciary wishes to address these allegations promptly and clearly.
Contrary to the assertions made in the aforementioned publication, the Judiciary wishes to state that the allegations of failure to submit financial reports of the Judiciary and failure to attend a meeting with the Finance and Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly scheduled for 18th April 2024 are totally inaccurate.
The Judicial Secretary, serving as the vote controller, has diligently sent all audited reports of the Judiciary from January 2011 to June 2019 to the National Assembly on March 27th, 2024, with copies of the reports also provided to the Auditor General. For the past 15 years, the accounts of the Judiciary have been audited by external auditors every 5 years and we are also expecting them in 2024. These efforts underscore the Judiciary’s steadfast commitment to upholding the highest standards of accountability and compliance.
Furthermore, it is essential to clarify that the meeting between the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) and the Judiciary indicated 24th April, 2024 in the schedule. Therefore, any allegation of failure to attend on the part of the Judiciary is unfounded.
The Judiciary, as the third and independent arm of government, maintains a profound respect for the other organs of government and expects the same respect in return. Upholding the principles of diligence and accuracy is paramount for the Judiciary, other state organs, and all media outlets.