Opposition Leader Calls for Immediate Action by Clerk of Parliament Amidst Corruption Probe

Hon. Abdul Kargbo, the leader of the main opposition All Peoples Congress Party (APC), has called on the Clerk of Parliament, Hon. Paran Umar Tarawally to step aside after the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) investigation launched an investigation on him and his wife, Mrs. Abibatu Tarawally.

In a post shared today on X, Hon. Kargbo expressed shocked at the revelations of abuse of office by the Clerk of Parliament. He added that the the repayment made by him to the ACC indicates an admission of guilt.

“To preserve the sanctity of parliament and to spare the House further embarrassment, I ask that he steps aside to allow the ACC to conclude its work,” Hon. Kargbo stated.

Earlier today, ACC made a formal announcement, disclosing the initiation of a thorough investigation into corruption allegations against Hon. Paran Umar Tarawally and Mrs. Abibatu Tarawally.

The ACC is focusing its inquiry on accusations that the Clerk of Parliament irregularly employed his wife, bypassing due process. Additionally, concerns have been raised regarding Mrs. Abibatu Tarawally’s prolonged absence from duties despite receiving salaries, prompting suspicions of Conflict of Interest and potential misuse of her husband’s influential position.

As the investigations progress, Mrs. Abibatu Tarawally, as a condition of her bail, has voluntarily returned One Hundred and Thirty Thousand (New) Leones (Le 131,000) out of the One Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand (New) Leones (Le 156,000) she received as salary during her ten-month tenure, as per records obtained from the Account-General.

Both Hon. Paran Umar Tarawally and Mrs. Abibatu Tarawally currently find themselves on bail, anxiously awaiting further developments in the ongoing investigation. The unfolding scandal continues to cast a shadow over the integrity of the parliamentary office, leaving citizens and political figures alike in a state of concern and uncertainty.