Ousmane Sonko seeks clarity on land allocation probes from justice minister
Following a plenary session on Thursday dedicated to endorsing six resolutions for establishing inquiry commissions, Ousmane Sonko disclosed that he had received two responses from the Minister of Justice, who also serves as the Keeper of the Seals.
Ousmane Sonko presses justice minister for clarity on land allocation investigations
Ousmane Sonko, who presides over Senegal’s National Assembly, insists on obtaining precise details regarding the scope of the judicial proceedings that the Justice Minister referenced. These proceedings pertain to land allocation schemes targeted by a proposed parliamentary inquiry commission. Without concrete evidence confirming that the existing legal process encompasses all relevant facts, the legislative body intends to proceed with its own investigations into these critical land issues.
During the plenary session where six resolutions to form investigative commissions were ratified, Sonko reiterated receiving two communications from the Justice Minister. He firmly stated, “Should we not receive more comprehensive clarification on the judicial procedure related to these matters, the National Assembly will be compelled to continue its work through parliamentary inquiry commissions.”
The National Assembly president elaborated that the initial response from the minister indicated a judicial investigation focusing on land allocations in the vicinity of the airport, specifically near the pilgrims’ hangar. Deeming this information inadequate, Sonko confirmed that he had explicitly requested further details. “I specifically asked him for this in the letter I sent,” he clarified. A subsequent response reportedly detailed an inquiry conducted by the National Gendarmerie’s Research Section, initiated at the financial prosecutor’s behest, with its report already completed.
However, Ousmane Sonko expressed concerns that this judicial procedure might not encompass all land allocation operations outlined in the proposed resolution, particularly those affecting the coastal region. It is a known legal principle that an ongoing judicial process concerning the same facts impedes the establishment or continuation of parliamentary inquiry commissions. Therefore, the critical challenge now is to precisely delineate the scope of the current judicial proceedings. “If we do not receive more extensive details,” Ousmane Sonko cautioned, the National Assembly will proceed with its work. This means the inquiry commission could continue its investigations into any operations not covered by the existing judicial process in Senegal.
