Banjulunding Imam Continues Testimony Against Rongo & Efry Mbye

Alhagie Yahya Bah, Imam of Banjulunding on Wednesday continued testimony against two prominent artistes accused of lying against the alkalo of Banjulunding, Eric Tundeh Janneh.
Momodou Jarju alias, a musician and Efry Mbye, a griot last year wrote a letter to the Office of the President alleging Alkali Janneh of grabbing lands and disuniting the villagers. Both pleaded not guilty.
Testifying at Banjul Magistrates’ Court, Imam Bah said the said letter was drafted by Malang Badjie and Rongo. The Imam adduced that Efry and Rongo have also written a letter to the managing director of Daily Observer, Mr Pa Malick Faye.
According to him, the letter which states that Malang Badjie is the chairman of the village’s council of elders was given to Daily Observer for publication, but Pa Malick hesitated to publish the said letter because the alkalo’s signature was missing in the letter.
He added that when Pa Malick showed him the letter and pictures from his computer screen he advised him not to publish the letter and asked him to give him the letter which he did.
He said all this happened when Rongo read a letter at the Bantabaa, which he (Rongo) said is from the president. He added that he did not know the whereabouts of the original copies when the police asked.
The defense at this juncture objected to the tendering of letters when the prosecutor sought to. He said the document was not prepared by the witness and that a proper foundation was not laid to tender the document.
The magistrate however overruled the defense’s objection. He said the court presume that the original document is in the possession of the accused persons.
Continuing his testimony, Imam said after Rongo read the letter which stated that the President has now made Malang Badjie the chairman of council of elders, villagers nearly brawled.
And when the villagers confronted Rongo for lying, he showered verbal assault on them, Imam Bah said.
He said the elders, including himself went back to the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) office in Kanifing who earlier warned them against any conflict at the village.
They informed the officials of the allegations made by Rongo, he said, noting that the officials confirmed that what Rongo has said is false and that the alkalo was the chairman of council of elders.
Under cross-examination, Imam Bah admitted that there are three main Mosques in Banjulunding, but he did not know whether the other Imams are part of the council of elders.
The trial resumes 13 April.

“I Was Known as ‘No Nonsense Judge” – Richards

A former High Court judge facing allegations of sedition and false information has on Friday told Banjul Magistrates’ Court that his diligence as an adjudicating officer earned him a name: ‘No Nonsense Judge.’
Moses Richards was reacting to a question posed to him by the director of Special Litigation, Daniel Kulo that he randomly arrested defense lawyers when he was a magistrate and then a judge.
Served as a magistrate in various parts of the country and as the first judge of the newly created Special Criminal Division of High Court designed to ‘exclusively preside over capital offences’, Richards has made a name for himself as a no-non-sense adjudicating officer throughout his tenure at the bench. 
He was dismissed in April last year for reasons unexplained following which he started practicing as a private legal practitioner.
“I was very diligent. I was known as a nonsense Judge,” he said in response to Kulo’s question.
“You were so diligent that you bring your children to court while presiding over cases,” Kulo quizzed further, but Richards denied that.
He also denied instructing the arrests of barristers McCarthy, Chime and Omar Njie, and the Proprietor of Harry’s Supermarket. 
He however admitted ordering the arrest of numerous people who failed to appear in court.
D.H Kulo further accused the former High Court judge of abandoning D10, 000 on the desk of the director of public prosecution while his trial is on-going.
Kulo said the DPP reported the matter to the police, but Moses said he was not aware that he was reported until an officer came to his office and told him that he was needed at the police headquarters.
Richards said the allegation surprises him because he went to the DPP’s office to find-out about a client who was rearrested and sent to mile 2 after the Special Criminal Court discharged the client. 
Still under cross-examination, Moses said he was asked by the police to put in writing as to why he went to DDP’s office which he did. He added that he has no personal problem with the DPP.
When asked whether the DPP is mad or mentally ill, Moses replied: “Madness varies and I wouldn’t have known that. But I don’t think so.”
Kulo asked: “Have you retracted anything in the content of the letter that generated this trial?” Moses however said he hasn’t retracted anything. He added: “When the Sheriff wrote back to me with the accusation, I replied him informing him that he misinterprets my letter. And I further indicated [to him] in the letter that I as a Gambian, I am in a better condition to know the virtue of the president than him.”
 Kulo further put it to Richards that he was sued by his client Mr. Joof over a land transaction, but the court dismissed that question after the defense objected.
When asked whether he regretted writing that letter to the Sheriff, Richards noted that he has no cause to remorse.
“Since he has no remorse we will leave him now before he will tell more lies,” Kulo said.
The case resumes April 6.

WODD Executive Director, on Women Empowerment

“There are hundreds of educated women up to university level who do not know what’s their constitutional rights are”, Amie Sillah the Executive Director of Women for Democracy and Development told the Musoolula Bantabaa (Women’s Forum).
The gender activist who spoke to Musoolula Bantabaa after the closing of a two day training for 40 women and 10 men said the main purpose of the workshop is to empower and sensitize women on the Women’s Act 2010 because after the parliament ratified the Act, all women organization were ask to sensitize them on the community level.
“And my role as an activist is to promote the rights of women, which I have done for decades by working with the grassroots of rural and urban poor women.”
Amie who recently won an award for to her dedication in changing the lives of poor women said her Organisation empowers women with knowledge of Democracy, Women rights. “We also give grants for Economic Empowerment to women”, she said.
She said the participants have been trained on Gender Equality and Equity, Good Governance, Social Justice, Social Inclusion and related issues.
“By democracy, we refer to the political system where the women in a given society are also given the right and the possibility to participate freely as individuals or groups, directly or indirectly.”
The women participating in the forum have always believed that they are owned by their own husbands. Society where male ideology is dominant, where male say “I own the female” has made the poor women, even the conventionally educated women.
Madam Sillah added that women issues are commonality and in order to eliminate this philosophy, women should be given equality in the social sphere, access to justice “we want our lives to be protected.”
“When it comes to atonalism these women want equal remuneration. But when it comes to the low rank that is where the problem is because there are instances before girls/women are given a job your boss has to go to bed with you. Where are we after our integrity is being violated”, she emphasized.
She said the issue of violation is best looked at through the lens of evolutionary psychology.
She added that such jobs are not sustainable after losing your dignity and honor. “Our dignity is sacred and should protect it by all means. I know women are very tortured by this.”
She also told Musoolula Bantabaa how women are being given loan at high interest rates that they end up selling their properties to pay the high interest rate loans for women make them poorer. She stated that if anyone wants to empower woman they should be given loans at reasonable interest or interest free loans. Before giving a fish to a woman, teach her how to catch fish and then feed her for life.”
Politically, she said women have the right to vote and to be voted for. “We have been rallying, dancing, cooking and clapping for men for so long, adding that now it is time that capable women, poor women take the leadership.”
She implored that women get the knowledge and stand for election either in the national assembly or council elections.
Women in the ruling party have a level of consciousness to take advantage of the opportunity as women can be voted in just as men. She said leadership requires honesty and strength as the destiny of the country lies in the hands of both men and women.
 Aji Fatou Mboge, participant said the training could have come at a better time like this.
She added that they have been edified on the rape of teenage girls, which is becoming rampant, adding that they have been lectured how to protect their girls from being victims.
Sharing her story with participant, Fatou explain her ordeal as tears runs down her cheeks:  “I once spend a night in a kitchen.” I did everything with my husband and after having seven children with him he went and married a young teenager who was young enough to be his grandchild.”
“What is stopping men by helping us and empowering us like the prophet use to do with his wives?
Fatou Bah, also a participant said they have been trained on marriage and divorce. “I think divorce should be last stage of marriage. The responsibilities of women are many combined with taking care of the children, which the men have little to do specially if he has many wives.”
For her, she said, she sees no reason why men should marry many wives when they are unable to provide shelter and clothing for the first wife.
 She added that registration of marriage was one of the issues they discussed during the workshop. “It is very applicable to register for marriages for proof. She said that would enable one to know how much the man spent on her in case of any hitch in the future. The elders who tied the marriage will not want to go to court to serve as witnesses when the need arises. As a result, she said the man will obviously win the case taking all your children with him.
“If my husband divorces me then I don’t think he will treat my children well”, she concluded.
She said because of parents’ lack of understanding she was unemployed; they were poor and the man she was dating with was paying for my training after her form four. “After my parents realized that they stopped the man from paying for my education and get me married to another man”, she said.
“Thanks to WODD who helped me realize my full potential”, she said with relief.
An elderly participant, Aminata Camara said illiteracy often excludes women from written knowledge and decision-making.
She said lack of awareness is one of the major challenges hindering the advancement of Gambian women who do not comprehend the subject.
She said she never dreamt about women expressing their sufferings. “I always thought: Should women bear the brunt suffering until we die and have no right”, the old woman said.

Women Speak Out Against Suffering

Scores of ordinary Gambian women have admitted that they have been naively enduring forms of human rights abuses, according to the executive Director of Women for Democracy and Development (WODD).
The women came to speak out about against their sufferings after undergoing training on national and international laws that guarantee their rights, thanks to WODD.
With funding from US Ambassadors’ Democracy and Human Rights Fund, WODD is now training both women and men to become trainers on women’s rights.
The fifth such training was held at the Girl Guides Hall in Kanifing attended by hundreds of women as a follow-up to four other workshops held in other regions of The Gambia.
“After listening to the lectures, the women gave feedbacks about their hardships and sufferings,” said Amie Sillah, WODD executive director.
She said she trained the participants on the Women’s Act 2010, the Maputo Protocol among other regional and international legal and policy instruments that protect women’s rights.
According to her, the women in all four regions gave their recommendations to the government, the donors, WODD and the communities as stakeholders.
“The government of the Gambia under the Women‘s Act has an obligation to fulfill its promise to the Gambian women which is to protect the social, economic, political and cultural rights so that Gambian women can enjoy dignity, liberty and prosperity,” she noted.
Madam Sillah noted that religion does not deny women their dignity and liberty to ensure that women develop, but it is the existence of certain traditions and cultures that negate the struggle of women in realizing their objectives.
WODD which empowers women with knowledge of Democracy, Women rights, Gender Equality and Equity, Good Governance, Social Justice, Social inclusion and all related issues has successfully conducted four regional workshops, the Executive Director said.
These include: Bansang, Upper Fulladu West; Jarumeh Koto, in Sami District; Jappineh in Jarra Central district and Kerr Omar Saine in Jokadu District.
Mr Zack Bailey and Janko Fofana of the US embassy underscored the importance of women empowerment in national development.
Mr. Bailey pointed out that the project is not assisting only WODD but also other women groups, including the Female Lawyer’s Association of the Gambia (FLAG) and GAMCOTRAP, among others.

Views on the Significance of International Women’s Day

“International Women’s Day that offers the world the opportunity to reflect on the status of women, with the objective of highlighting their contributions, achievements as well as their limitations in terms of promotion of gender equality and empowerment at all levels.” So said the Mrs. Isa Davies, Director of Information Services in a interview with Musoolula Bantaba anchor.
As the world, The Gambia included, commomerated International Women’s Day on March 8 - last week Wednesday, Musoolula Bantaba went out and about sounding the opinion of various people .
In an effort to provide an amalgam of thoughts, we spoke to women as well as men for the derivation of a meaning for the day, manners of commemoration and the impacts expected.
The Bantaba was first opened to Mrs. Isa Davies, Director of Information Services who has this to say when asked to share her view:
 “As a woman I feel happy, because International Women’s Day makes our voices to be heard and for us not to remain in limbo. I think this year’s celebration is worth celebrating, because it is a day that women come together to celebrate their achievements politically, economically; past, present and the future. Women have been doing really well.”
As women, she said:  “We cannot forget that women have achieved and improved themselves over the years. Women are going to universities, women can work and still have and raise a family, and women are astronauts, engineers, prime ministers, politicians and even presidents.”
Madam Davies said International Women’s Day (IWD) was first declared in 1910 with the first IWD event held in 1911. 2011 sees 100 years of International Women’s Day. Having been celebrated around the world, widespread increased activity has been anticipated globally on 8 March 2011 honoring 100 years of International Women’s Day.
She added that The Gambia is a country that lived for several centuries simultaneously and our people encapsulate all the contradictions that come from being a multi cultural, multi religious society– especially in the case of women
She stated that IWD is a day that offers the world the opportunity to reflect on the status of women, with the objectives of highlighting their contributions, achievements as well as their limitations in terms of promotion of gender equality and empowerment at all levels.
For Mariama Bah, lady councilor for Banjulinding Ward, this day is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, economic or political.
She pointed out that it is an occasion to take a fleeting glance at past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, to look ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.
 “I think women leaders should address issues that are affecting rural women. They appear to be fighting for our rights and welfare, but it is the other way round. More investment in improving the lives of rural women could create a springboard for better education, improved health and higher income,” said Binta Dampha of Ndungu Kebba, North Bank Region, adding that the rural woman is so unfortunate.
Fatou Touray, Senior reporter with The Gambia Info in sharing her view said the gap between men and women should be bridged by raising awareness on a day like IWD.
“Women should know the worth of celebrating the day. It helps us to come together and unite in a unified platform, in an outward appearance to stand for ourselves and for men to join and help us too, because whatever we do is for the sake of men too and they cannot be left out in a day like this,” she said.
He went further to state that the global event has grown from strength to strength and has become an event which brings women and other stakeholders together to promote and advocate for more cohesive and coordinated interventions towards effectively addressing the critical needs of women in the social, political and economic processes.
Oley Dibba, a midwife nurse at Sinchu Alhajie said, “Cognizant of the prevalence of violence against women and girls, and its horrendous effects on their fundamental rights and freedoms, and physical and mental health, efforts to combat these should be addressed and emphasized on a day like this.”
For Mariama Kagbo, a lecturer said the following questions should be addressed on such a day:
1. What effective strategies should be adopted to promote and implement the rule of law against perpetrators of violence and all other forms of gender based violence?
2. How government should put an end to impunity and ensure accountability with regard to violence?
3. How the national financial policy should be expanded to include provisions for comprehensive support to victims of violence?
4. What are some examples of best practices whereby gender sensitive approaches have been used to include women and girls in the design and approaches that have been used to include women and girls in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of violence?
This day, according to Foday Malang, should make women proud, inspired, and envisioned. Women have made great strides in equality yet there is still a great deal to be achieved on many fronts. “IWD provides a unique and global opportunity to reignite, inspire and channel women’s equality for the future,” he added.
Meita Touray, reporter News & Report Magazine stressed that the symbol of women’s long struggle to achieve equality should not be reduced into a marketing gimmick.
“We need economic and social policies that support women’s empowerment. We need programmes and budgets that promote non-violence. We need a positive image of women in the media. We need laws that say violence is a crime, that hold perpetrators accountable and are enforced,” she implored.
According to the female pen pusher, this day highlights the growth and achievements of women in the developed and developing world. She added that events are held to honour women’s various advancements but at the same time, it serves as a reminder to all, of how much more needs to be done to improve and maintain women’s equality in all aspects of life and the need to continue being vigilant towards the same goal.
“This day also brings into focus the need to better all aspects of a woman’s life in society, be it economical, political or social,” she articulated.
For Lamin Njie, a university student: “It is only by acting together can we create more equal and peaceful societies.  Let us all, on this IWD, resolve to make a difference,” he said.
“Women and men should continue to work as hard as we can to ensure that girls and women are accorded the rights and opportunities they deserve. Global problems are too big and too complex to be solved without the full participation of women. Strengthening women’s rights is not only a continuing moral obligation--it is also a necessity as we face a global economic crisis,” he said
Momodou Dem, a reporter with the Foroyaa newspaper noted that issues that hinder women’s contributions should be the main issue to be addressed on a day like International Women’s Day as far as their rights are concerned.
 “The most pathetic thing“, he said “is seeing an old woman being arraigned before a court only for being a beggar on the streets.”
He added that the celebration does not only mean marching or raising banners with fluttering slogans in the air, but to also focus on the critical issues to chart a way forward.
Fatoumatta Ceesay, an accountant with The Daily News said most of the celebrations are held in the urban areas forgetting the rural women most of whom do not know the existence and the significance of the IWD in connection with their fundamental rights.
“Women gardeners among others should be given enough storage facilities to ease their work, in their efforts to earn dignified living,” she emphasized.

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Moses Richards’ Lawyer Overruled Five Times

The trial magistrate in the criminal trial involving Moses Richards who is charged with false information and sedition has yesterday overruled five questions posed to Richards by his lawyer.
A former High Court Judge, Moses Richards is alleged to have brought contempt in the person of president Jammeh when he allegedly gave false information to the sheriff of High Court, but he pleaded not guilty.
“Did you mention in the last paragraph that the president ordered anything?” the doyen lawyer, Suraha Janneh asked Richards, but the prosecution objected the admissibility of the question and the magistrate concurred.
“And do you in your knowledge know if there is any difference between His Excellency, the President and the Office of the President?” lawyer Jammeh quizzed, but the Director of Special Litigation, Daniel Kulo objected to this question as well and the magistrate upheld the objection.
Kulo said the defense was leading the accused and it was an opinion, but lawyer Janneh argued that his knowledge and opinion is quite different.
The magistrate intervened and asked the defense:  “Can you give opinion without knowledge”.
The defense in response said, “This is not an academic exercise, but a criminal matter”.
The presiding magistrate also disallowed the accused to answer if he has any intent to bring into contempt of the President. He told the defense that the document is already admitted as evidence and should be left with the court to evaluate.
The defense lawyer however, stated that it is a charge which his client has to deny. He said his client is accused of mentioning that the President of the Republic ordered a stay of execution of a writ of possession in a civil suit.
And the state counsel also said there is no better denial than the accused person’s plea.
“I don’t mind if we are overruled, but in order to prove our case we had to give evidence”, Janneh countered.
Continuing his evidence, the accused said he never had contempt or hatred for the president.
He said he called Pa Colley, the alkalo of Jabang into his office to clarify whether the information was correct before he dispatched the letter to the Attorney General, Chief Justice, Minister of Lands and Director of NIA.
“I took briefs, because he informed me that if the execution was attempted there was going to be a calamity,” Moses said.
“Pa Colley then made a telephone call to a gentleman who introduced himself as the director of Physical Planning”.
He said the director assured him that what the Alkalo told him was the truth.
Moses said he wrote the letter under his client’s instruction and signed it as a firm solicitor.
He said the suit number indicates that the case started in 1992 which he never took part as a lawyer and was never aware of.
Richards said he was reliably informed by the alkalo that the case was between the Bojangs of Sukuta and the Colleys in Jabang.
The case continues today.

Former Social Security Boss Accused of Stealing D652, 250.00

Former managing director of Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC), Mr. Edward Graham who is standing trial on two charges has been accused of stealing the sum of D652, 250.00.
Arraigned yesterday at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, Mr Graham denied the allegation.
The particulars of offence indicates that the accused some times in 2009 stole the sum of D652, 250.00 (six hundred and fifty-two thousand two hundred and fifty dalasi) being the property of Mr. Ruth Sowe.
Meanwhile, the accused was granted bail in the sum of D1Million after a legal wrangling between Graham’s lawyer Abdul Aziz Bensouda and the prosecuting police officer.
The prosecutor without waiting for the defense to apply for a bail told the court that he was objecting to the bail for the accused. He said the court should not grant Graham a bail because of the huge amount of money involved.
Abdul Aziz Bensouda who said he was just hearing the charge said the offense is bailable, adding that the amount of money involved is not significant. He said the accused was the Managing Director of SSHFC and has many properties.
He made reference to another case in which the accused is involved before the High Court, where he was granted bailed. He added that the prosecution has not given reasons why the accused should not be bailed.
 “There is no possibility of the accused absconding”, he said, stating that the offence is not punishable by death or life imprisonment”.