By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The tribunal set up to investigate the Auditor General, Lara Taylor Pearce and Deputy, Tamba Momoh is said to be progressing well, according to Solicitor-General Robert Kowa.
He told the government’s weekly press briefing that they’ve been accused of stalling the proceedings but insisted the tribunal is up and running despite of what he said are some judicial issues as he said; they have been accused of stalling the tribunal’s proceedings.
He explained of a time the Auditor General asked for an excuse from the sitting of the tribunal to attend to some personal affairs outside jurisdiction which he said necessitated the tribunal not to sit for a period of one month. He also said that before the Auditor General travelled, the deputy also sought travel permission.
“So there was this lapse of time waiting for them to be available since we cannot stop them as some of the issues raised were touching and concerning,” Kowa said.
He said upon the two individuals’ return, the Deputy Auditor- General made an application before the tribunal on the issue of jurisdiction as to whether he should appear before the tribunal as Deputy Auditor General and not Auditor General. He said, arguments were raised by both parties and a decision was delivered on the 28th November, 2022 that the jurisdictional objection raised failed, and was advised to stand before the tribunal for enquiry as Deputy-Auditor-General.
Kowa said they are not holding onto the tribunal, and that they are ready and willing to proceed at any time. He said it is not the fault of the State to delay proceedings nor is it out of any laziness, but that the responsibility of the other side to cooperate by filing papers’ direction has a time line.
It could be recalled that the Auditor General and her Deputy were suspended over a year ago over alleged misconduct by the Audit Service, over a year ago, that culminated in the setting up of the tribunal.
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