Drug suspect finally granted bail

Justice Ebrima Jaiteh last week ordered for one Assan Badjie be released on bail in the sum of one million dalasi with a Gambian surety, who shall deposit a property valued not less than one million dalasi.

Badjie’s bail came after his lawyer Lamin Mboge sought for bail at the High Court following his denial of bail by another high court judge. The ruling was held in his chambers.

The accused Assan Badjie is on trial for allegedly being in possession of 21kg of cannabis. He was arrested last November at Omorto village in the West Coast Region and later arraigned at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court.

The accused Assan Badjie is on trial for allegedly being in possession of 21kg of cannabis. He was arrested last November at Omorto village in the West Coast Region and later arraigned at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court.

A woman's short ecstasy

Njola was a widow who lost her husband eight years ago. She lived in a dilapidated house with her children.

Njola as a woman and a mother had lived a joyous life with her husband before his untimely death. She later fell into the hands of his womaniser boss who was just interested in abusing her and left her to die a sympathetic death. Many a woman has died a similar death.

Njola's story

Njola has been a pride of her family when she got married to Sutuko, a construction consultant who worked with an engineering company, immediately after the completion of her senior secondary school.

Her husband's talent had saved the engineering company a fortune during his seven years of service. The young consultant enjoyed life with his wife. He always felt proud of her among her peers. He found Njola as a virgin when they got married. This earned Njola respect both in her family and that of sutuko.

No sooner was her husband elevated to the position of chief consultant than his services were terminated. Neighbours, relatives and friends attributed it to superstition.

Detained radio station manager charged with sedition, remanded

Mr Ceesay

Abdoulie Ceesay, Managing Director of Taranga FM, who has been in the custody of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) since July 17, was arraigned at a lower court in Banjul yesterday charged with a single count of “seditious intention.”

 Police prosecutors alleged that, on or about the July 16, Ceesay distributed pictures of the Gambian President Yahya Jammeh to two persons, Zainab Koneh and Fatou A. Drammeh, using his Africell mobile SIM card. The said picture showed a gun pointing at President Jammeh.

 According to the prosecutors, by distributing the pictures, Ceesay had the intention to “raise discontent, hatred or disaffection among the inhabitants of The Gambia.”

Journalist detained for article on Ivorian president’s wealth

 Joseph Gnahoua Titi, managing editor of the Aujourd'hui newspaper, appeared before an examining magistrate in Cote d’Ivoire for “disseminating false information" and “libel against the head of state.”

 Before being arrested and detained at the Abidjan Remand Home and Prison on July 29, Titi was summoned together with his editor-in-chief, Séverine Blé, on July 28. The two were summoned to explain a publication in Aujourd'hui. Titi was questioned for nearly five hours.

 The said article, published on July 21 and titled "President Ouattara is extremely rich. His wealth is estimated at 17 billion US dollars,” allegedly “impugned the integrity” of Ivorian President Alassanne Ouattara.

UN rights experts hail Zambia’s move away from death penalty, but warn of “areas of concern” in Africa

Two United Nations human rights experts welcomed a recent decision by the President of Zambia, Edgar Lungui, to commute the death sentences of 332 individuals to life imprisonment. The UN Special Rapporteurs on summary executions, Christof Heyns, and on torture, Juan E. Méndez, also encouraged the Zambian authorities “to take a step further by removing all reference to the death penalty in the country’s laws.”   

President Lungui commuted the sentences after his visit to Mukobeko Maximum Security Prison, which despite a capacity of 51 inmates, houses hundreds. 
“By commuting these death sentences, the Zambia puts a stop to mental and physical pain and suffering, and takes an important step towards ensuring respect for the inherent dignity of the human person,” Mr. Mendez said. 

“This decision is in line with the trend in Africa – as in the rest of the world – to move away from the death penalty. As the Secretary General of the UN has said, there is no room for this form of punishment in the 21st Century,” Mr Heyns said. 

Release of journalist Alagie Sissay confirmed

 

Mr Sisay

Gambia Press Union confirmed yesterday that the managing director of Teranga FM radio station, Mr Alagie Sisay has been released after twelve days in the custody of the state.

"He was dumped in the streets of Yundum, near the Airport, at 11pm, where his family picked him after he telephoned to inform them of his release, says Saikou Jammeh secretary general of the union.

"Although Mr Sisay has given no further details regarding his ordeal, his family confirmed that no criminal charge was leveled against him. It has also been confirmed that he was not in good health conditions and had to undergo check-up at a medical facility. "

On 2 July, Sisay, manager of the community radio station Taranga, was at his compound close to the radio station, when he was informed by a friend that two men in plain clothes were looking for him at the station near his house. When Ceesay went to talk to them, his friend also tried to follow the exchange but was told by two men to go away.

"The prolonged detention of Mr Sisay is an infringement on his constitutional right not to be detained beyond 72 hours. His apparent mistreatment is deeply regrettable," Jammeh added.

He said the GPU is committed to the protection and promotion of press freedom and freedom of expression.

Article 19 calls for the release of Taranga FM manager

Fatou Jagne Senghor

ARTICLE 19, a London-based human rights organization has call on the Gambian government to release Mr Alagie Ceesay, the manager of Taranga FM, a community radio based in Sinchu Alhagie, Kombo North District.

In a press statement issued yesterday, the regional director of ARTICLE 19 West Africa, Fatou Jagne Senghor said:  “We are disturbed by the disappearance of Alagie Abdoulie Ceesay, who has now been missing for ten days without any contact with his family or colleagues.”

According to Ms Senghor Mr Ceesay was picked up on 2 July by plain clothes officers at his residence in Sinchu. She calls on Gambian Authorities to provide information on the whereabouts of Ceesay, and to release him.

“David Kujabi, the Public Relations Officer of Banjul Police Station told ARTICLE 19 that Ceesay is not in police custody and if he was there, they would have allowed family to visit him. Subsequently, the NIA was contacted by ARTICLE 19, but did not provide any response.
From other local sources close to the family, and relatives who spoke to ARTICLE 19, Ceesay is believed to be in NIA custody; there are fears for his safety.