‘NIA Officer Threatened to Shoot Him’ - Narcotic Officer

A narcotic officer in the criminal trial involving four NIA officials has told the Banjul Magistrates’ Court that Lamin Darboe threatened to shoot him when he attempted to take two nylon bags of suspected drugs from him.
“He hit me on the chest and when I approached Omar Jammeh he pulled out a gun and fired a shot and threatened to shoot me if I attempt to take the nylon bags,” said Lamin Sima, state no 3 witness on Monday
 Lamin Darboe, Ebrima Drammeh, Edrissa Jobe and Omar Jammeh all intelligent officers are standing trial on two counts of criminal offences.
The accused persons have sometime in May 2009 at the NIA head office in Banjul allegedly conspired to cause injury to the persons of Lamin Kabou and Lamin Sima at the NIA head office in Banjul. 
On count 2, they intently caused grievous bodily harm to Lamin Kabou and Lamin Sima, unlawfully wounded Lamin Kabou and Lamin Sima, by beating them with fist blows, electric cables and metals.
All accused persons denied the allegations.
Sima said he found the accused persons in Brikama Kembujeh after receiving information and directives that there are drug peddlers at the said place.
He said upon arrival, he met the NIA officers and introduced himself to them. He said the 3rd accused insulted him when he demanded the suspected drugs. According to the witness, 3rd accused told him: “This is not your NDEA show and I will not surrender anything.”
Sima added that the officials later left the scene with some people whom they arrested. He said he followed them but the 3rd accused threatened to put him behind bars. He said when he told them that he was doing his work, the officials left with the drugs.
He said they came back within a couple of minutes and took the suspects to NIA headquarters.
He stated that after few days the 2nd accused called him and ordered him to report to NIA but he informed him that he was under somebody’s command and the accused told him, “am here with your boss Bun Sanneh and if you don’t come within a hour, we will arrest you.”
He said he went direct to the NDEA office where he met Bun Sanneh who ordered him to board the vehicle which was full of NIA officers. “When I entered the car I found Lamin Kabou tied and was bleeding. When I asked what was going on Bun ordered me to keep quiet,” he said.
He said when they reached NIA headquarters they beat Kabou with electric wire. “He was shouting and calling Bun Sanneh to come and help him,” the witness testified.
He said Bun and the then Director General of NIA Bo Badjie came out. He said Bo sent them out and Bun said in anger that his officers had no respect for him before he left.
He said when Bun Sanneh, left the officers came back and took him to a small room upstairs and started beating him until he start bleeding from his neck.
“I shouted and told them that I will do whatever they said because I was tired and they say that was just the introduction,” he adduced
He said they tore the statement he wrote as they were not satisfied and later took him to a cell call ‘bambadinka’ where he was detained for almost two hours.
He said he was taken out of the cell after ex-IGP Ensa Badjie’s intervention. He said when he met Ensa Badjie at the conference room, he narrated everything to him. He added that Ensa told him that Bun Sanneh went to his office and told him that his men were taken to NIA and are being tortured
“Ensa told them that it was improper to treat a fellow officer like that,” he said
He said they told Ensa that he was dealing with drug peddlers but when Ensa asked them about the drugs, they said it was fertilizer.
He said he was detained for 28 days and was taken to court but the case was struck out and he was discharged.
The trial continues.

D-Day for Victim of Senegal-Gambia Arms Shipment Row

A man who became a victim of a recent diplomatic row between the neighboring Senegal and The Gambia will know his fate today, if the Banjul Magistrates’ Court delivers on its promise. 
Mr Karamo Saidy Fatajo, a trader at Albert Market in Banjul is accused of conducting himself in a manner that could breach the peace.
Tensions had once again brewed between the neighboring Senegal and The Gambia following the seizure of alleged Gambia-bound controversial arms shipment by Nigerian authorities in Lagos seaport. The shipment was Iran, who is sanctioned by UN to deal in arms and ammunition.  
Amid mounting allegations in Senegal that Gambia intends to use those weapons to sponsor independence seeking rebels of Casamance in Senegal, Gambia government responded by branding Senegalese president as enemy.
Although the issue was a topical one, Mr Fatajo, who allegedly told his colleague traders at the market that Senegal will attack Gambia following the allegations, was arrested and detained at the police headquarters in Banjul. 
Mr Musa Babanding Ceesay, his trader friend admitted reporting him to the police for his alleged comments.
He first appeared in court on December 20, 2010 and was granted bail in the sum of D50, 000.
Three state witnesses had testified in the trial, but Mr Fatojo maintained innocence. 
The three-month-long trial is expected to end today

Binta A Bah Awarded Daily News Best Journalist And Kissykissymansa Bags Best Columnist Award

Binta A. Bah, a reporter has been awarded the Best Journalist of The Daily News, a private Gambian tri-weekly newspaper that publishes in print and online.
Established on April 6, 2009 by Madi M.K Ceesay, a seasoned Gambian journalist, The Daily News on Wednesday celebrated two years of existence at a ceremony held at the paper’s office in Churchill’s Town, Serrekunda.
The occasion was well attended, especially by media practitioners from other print media outlets.
Two veteran journalists, Mr Swaebou Conate, editor/publisher of The Gambia News & Report weekly magazine and Bijou Peters, a retired journalist respectively delivered topics on the impact and future of the paper. 
On the award, Binta A Bah, a judicial correspondent who anchors ‘Musoolula Bantabaa’, a weekly women’s column has been awarded best journalist of the paper.
Binta began the trade last year when she joined The Daily News after completing the Media Agenda-partnered Insight Training Centre one-year certificate studies in journalism. She is currently pursuing her diploma and working full time.   
Meanwhile, Mr Saikou Jammeh, the editor in chief, who anchors Kissykissy Mansa, also a weekly column that produces researched, investigative and in-depth articles on burning issues.
Mr Jammeh began his journalism career at The Gambia News & Report weekly magazine in 2007. He was among the founding staff of The Voice, an independent newspaper where he left in October 2009 as sub-editor to join The Daily News.
At The Daily News, Mr Jammeh started as a freelance reporter and rose through various ranks: staff reporter, sub-editor and editor in chief respectively.  
Both winners were awarded a prize of five hundred dalasis.

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In Lawyer Moses Richards Sedition Trial Jabang Alkalo: ‘Sheriff Advised Me to Secure the Services of a Lawyer’

the village head of Jabang in Kombo North, West Coast region on Wednesday said it was the Sheriff of the High Court, who advised him to secure the services of a barrister.
Pa Ebrima Colley was giving evidence as defense witness in the trial against defense lawyer Moses Richards, a former High Court judge, accused of sedition and false information.
Richards, who pleaded not guilty, is alleged to have, on behalf of Pa Colley, his client, written a deceiving letter to the Sheriff of High that the Office of the President ordered a stay of execution of judgment in a certain civil suit.
Testifying at Banjul Magistrates’ Court presided over by magistrate Taiwo Ade Alagbe, Pa Colley recalled receiving a telephone call from a High Court staff called, Alieu, who told him that he was needed at the Sheriff’s Office at the High Court in Banjul.
He said the Sheriff of the High Court asked him if he could remember the incident that happened in his village in the 2007, which prompted government’s intervention and he answered in the affirmative. 
Pa Ebrima Colley adduced that the Sherrif then advised him to secure a lawyer because there was going to be an eviction exercise as was done in 2007.
“I got frightened and asked the Sheriff what was I supposed to do” he told the court. “The Sheriff told me that I needed to secure the services of a lawyer who should write a letter for me.”
He said when he enquired from the Sherriff as to what else he was to tell the lawyer, the Sheriff then ordered Alieu, to photocopy a letter which he was later given to take to his lawyer.
Pa Colley said he then took the letter to the accused person, Moses Richards, to help him write a letter as directed by the Sherrif.
According to him, Richards directed him to consult Kebba Sanyang, also a legal practitioner, but the latter told him that he was minister of Justice at the time of the saga; that he could not write the letter.
He adduced that Mr Sanyang also directed him to consult the service chiefs. He said he unable to met the IGP but managed to speak to the deputy Inspector General of Police, who told him that it was good that he informed him.
“Few days later, the office of the Sheriff calls me again. Upon arrival, Alieu told him that the sheriff had travelled. I was taken to the office of Pa Harry Jammeh, the solicitor general.”
Trail continues Monday April 11. 

Moses Richards: No Reason was Advanced for My Termination

Moses Richards, a former High Court judge sacked April last year has said that no reason was advanced to him for the termination of his service as a judge.
Richards made this remarks on Wednesday at the magistrates’ court in Banjul where he is standing trial on charges of sedition and false information, which he denied.
Now a private legal practitioner, Richards served extensively as a magistrate in almost all the regions in the country before he was promoted a judge in charge of the Special Criminal Division of High Court created to preside over capital offences with a view to reduce the backlog of cases. 
And when the Director Special Litigation, D.H Kulo told him that he (Richards) got his dismissal from the bench for misconduct on a land matter including Abdoulie Jobe, Moses rubbished the allegation.
“That is not true,” he responded. “I never misconduct myself. My service was terminated and no reason was given.”
“It is correct to say that you lied on oath in this court” Kulo asked, but Moses denied lying to the court.
Kulo also accused Richards of having had a problem with police when he acted for Abdoulie Jobe for the purchase of land while he was a judge, but Moses denied it.
“If the record indicates you once had a problem with the police, it is correct for the court to treat you as a liar,” Kulo advanced.
However, the leading defense counsel Surahata Janneh objected to the admissibility of that question. Janneh said the state counsel was speculating.
Although Kulo countered that Richards should be allowed to answer the question, the court nonetheless granted the defense’s objection.
As the cross- examination continued, Kulo asked the accused that he as a former magistrate and High Court judge if the way he wrote the letter as his client narrated to him was the proper way.
“The Sheriff confirmed in this court that he asked him (his client) to write a letter,” Moses replied
Moses added that he wrote what his client narrated to him about what happened in 2007 in Jabang.
“As a lawyer I take my instructions from my client and I wrote on his behalf,” he said, denying being dictated by his client.
According to him, he took reasonable steps to make sure what he wrote was what the Sheriff told his client. “The Director of Physical Planning also confirmed that what my entire client said was the truth,” he added.
“And that is why you did not call the Sheriff of the Secretary General” Kulo asked.
Richards replied: “I have no cause to ask Pa Ebrima Colley the nature of the letter because he knew very well what the Sheriff told him.”
He added that his letter of the 6 December was acknowledged by the Sheriff who he said thanked him.
“You are being economical of the truth,” Kulo put to him.
But Richards insisted that he was saying the truth.
He said it is very incorrect for the Sherrif to copy any of his correspondents to the Office of the President because the matter does not concern the Office of the President.
He said he never mentioned in his evidence that the villagers of Jabang sustained injuries during the execution.
Richards said the Director of Physical Planning told him that investigations were going on to determine the land ownership of Jabang.
The case resumes today.

Author: Binta A Bah

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.