By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
The suspended Deputy Auditor General, Tamba Momoh has in a press statement dated 12th July 2024 responded to a recent press statement from State House directing the Audit Service board to take the necessary procedure for his removal along with the Auditor General.
“My attention has been drawn to a Press Release by the Office of the Press Secretary at State House in Freetown, boarding on the suspension of Mrs. Lara Taylor- Pearce, Auditor General, and my good self Tamba Momoh, one of her former Deputies,” the release reads in part, adding he was shocked to have read in the said Press Statement that the Tribunal has recommended for his removal from an organization that he no longer works for. “Without sharing the report outlining any recommendations with him or his lawyers,” It added.
Momoh in the release recalls how they were invited by the Tribunal on the 12th June 2024 where they were informed about the conclusion of the Tribunal’s investigation and that the report was to be submitted to President Julius Maada Bio and a copy was to be made available to them. It noted that Momoh had not received any copy of the Tribunal’s Report even after he had made such a request.
The release went on to recall how the suspended Deputy Auditor General’s lawyer had raised a preliminary objection that the Tribunal did not have the jurisdiction over him, being that he was not the Auditor General at that time, saying that the Audit Service Board was the appropriate authority which is charged with the responsibility to investigate any misconduct Momoh was alleged to have committed while he was in office. It however added that the Attorney General and the Tribunal Panel overruled his lawyer’s objection.
Momoh however in the press release denies any wrongdoing.
The release also noted how Momoh had “in the meantime” resigned from the Audit Service since 30th July 2023.
A recent press release from the Office of the Press Secretary at State House directed the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to initiate the “necessary” procedure for the removal of the suspended Auditor General, Lara Taylor-Pearce pursuant to Section 137(7) (b) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone 1991.
The release from State House also directed the Audit Service Board to “pursue” action for the removal of the suspended Deputy Auditor General, Tamba Momoh.
It added that the President has accepted all the recommendations in the report that was submitted by the Tribunal among which was the removal of the Auditor General and her Deputy.
The suspended Auditor General, Lara Taylor-Pearce and the Deputy Auditor General, Tamba Momoh were suspended from office in November 2022 for what the government alleged to have been misconduct and unprofessionalism.
A Tribunal was then set up to investigate the alleged misconduct by the Auditor General and her Deputy. The report of their investigations has been submitted to the President.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (15/07/24)
