By Haddy Touray
A rights group Tuesday welcomed the verdict delivered on the Auditor General Momodou Ceesay’s case against the government, while calling for his reinstatement.
The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ) expressed concern over the Supreme Court’s decision on Ceesay’s removal from office saying the judgment failed to provide what it described as the appropriate constitutional remedy.
In a statement issued following the court’s ruling on 7 July 2026, the rights group said while it welcomed the declaration that Mr. Ceesay’s removal in 2025 and his subsequent eviction from the National Audit Office by the Inspector General of Police were unconstitutional, it disagreed with the decision not to reinstate him.
The Supreme Court instead awarded Mr. Ceesay compensation, including payment of salaries for the remainder of his tenure, gratuity, pension benefits and D4 million in damages against the Inspector General of Police.
EFSCRJ argued that the absence of sanctions against public officials responsible for the unconstitutional actions could weaken constitutional safeguards and encourage future violations.
“The judgment has serious implications for constitutional governance, the rule of law and democratic accountability,” the organization said, adding that reinstatement would have reinforced the independence of constitutionally protected offices.
The rights group warned that failure to order reinstatement could expose other independent institutions, including the Independent Electoral Commission, National Human Rights Commission, Ombudsman and the judiciary, to possible executive interference.
EFSCRJ also criticised the fact that taxpayers would bear the financial cost of what it described as unconstitutional actions by public officials, arguing that individuals responsible for such violations should face personal accountability.
The organization disagreed with the Court’s reasoning that reinstatement was impracticable because of an alleged breakdown in relations between the Auditor General and the Executive, stressing that public offices are governed by constitutional obligations rather than personal relationships.
The group further called for accountability for officials involved in the matter, including President Adama Barrow, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dawda A Jallow, and Inspector General of Police Seedy Muctarr Touray.
EFSCRJ said the ruling represented the second time in seven years that the Supreme Court had found actions by President Barrow to be unconstitutional, referring also to the 2019 case involving the removal of nominated National Assembly member Ya Kumba Jaiteh.
The organization urged the National Assembly to exercise its oversight powers by summoning President Barrow to explain what it described as repeated unconstitutional actions.
It also called on civil society organizations, political parties, professional bodies and citizens to defend constitutional governance and demand accountability whenever public officials violate the Constitution.
While commending the Supreme Court for affirming that the removal and eviction of the Auditor General were unconstitutional, EFSCRJ maintained that the remedies granted were insufficient to protect institutional independence and deter future abuse of public power.