By Nicholas Bass
The opposition National Assembly Member for Serrekunda West under the ticket of United Democratic Party (UDP) Hon Madi Ceesay has debunkedallegations against the National Assembly Members (NAMs) that they refusal to approval 2019 Anti-Corruption bill as there has been constant corruption allegations on social media against President Barrow’s administration.
United Democratic Legislature Hon Madi Ceesay in an interview with the Voice claimed that the National Assembly Members have no interest in trying to suppress the approval of the Anti-Corruption bill, noting that the NAMs have no control of the votes that necessitates approval of the 2019 Anti-Corruption Bill.
However, Hon Ceesay pointed out that the disagreements among NAMs of the whole House of parliament that emanated from the removal of most of the essential Sections and parts of the Anti-Corruption bill has contributed to the delay of its approval.
“At that point, the minority leader Hon Alagie S. Darboe relied on standing order and request for the Bill to be revisited”, Ceesay said.
He said that the bill could not proceed as a result of the arguments of the NAMs of the whole House, stressing that the Anti-Corruption bill was taken out of the whole House of parliament and it was sent back to the Assembly Business Committee (ABC) for the relevant committee to look at it.
He disclosed that after its verdict by the relevant committee it will be brought back to the National Assembly.
However, Hon Ceesay argued that some of the NAMs are with the opinion that prosecution for an offence under the Anti-Corruption Bill or any other law prohibiting bribery, corruption and other related offences shall be done with the consent of the Attorney General, noting that some of the NAMs differ in their opinion.
Hon Ceesay accused the NAMs of the National People’s Party (NPP) camp of voting against Section 37 of the Anti-Corruption bill, noting that NPP NAMs were of the opinion that Section 37 of unexplained wealth should be removed from the Anti-Corruption Bill. He deduced that UDP NAMs opposed the quest of NPP NAMs.
He exclaimed that the removal of Section 37 from the Anti-Corruption bill will render the bill as a toothless bull, noting that if such happens alleged corrupt individuals will go away with state’s funds without being prosecuted.
Meanwhile ,Hon Ceesay is optimistic that the Anti-Corruption Bill will be re-introduce in the next year for consideration ,noting that he is looking forward to seeing Section 37 of the Anti-Corruption to be inserted into the bill. He also believes that the motives of NPP NAMs regarding Section 37 of the Anti-Corruption bill will be clear when it is re-introduce at the National Assembly.
According to Section 37 of 2019 Anti-Corruption Bill, a person who, being or having been a public officer is in possession of unexplained wealth, through himself or herself or another person-
(a)maintains a standard of living above that which is commensurate with his or her present or past official emoluments ;or
(b) is in control of pecuniary resources or property disproportionate to his or her present or past official emoluments ,unless he or she gives a satisfactory explanation as to how such pecuniary resources or property came under his or her control, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of three hundred thousand Dalasi or to imprisonment for seven years or to both.