SABALLY IN COURT, REMANDED AT NIA

Author: Binta A Bah, standard.gm

After being detained for over a month, Momodou Sabally was yesterday afternoon arraigned before the high court in Banjul.

State prosecutors have slammed one count of economic crime and two counts of abuse of office charges against the former secretary general and minister for presidential affairs, all relating to a Youth Career Development Programme organised by one Mariama Sillah in May 2014.

Mr Sabally, 40, is accused of causing economic loss to SSHFC in the amount of D402,500 by unduly influencing SSHFC to fund the programme without the recourse to due process. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

However, his request to be released on bail was denied by Justice Abdullahi Mikailu who ordered him to be remanded at the National Intelligence Agency after the prosecution said the investigations into his matter were ongoing.

 “I want an order to leave the accused in the custody of the NIA owing to the fact that the investigation in relation to the accused person is ongoing. We want the court to give an order to this effect,” the director of public prosecution told the court.  

Mr Sabally who was not represented by a lawyer told the court: “I have been detained for five weeks during which I cooperated with the investigators… I have a wife and children.

Wowo Was Never Appointed as ActingChief Justice’

Ex-CJ Wowo

John Belford, the Judiciary Secretary has said Wowo was never appointed at acting chief justice because he did not receive any letter to that effect.

“I have never complain to any authority about Wowo acting as Chief Justice, because I was looking to receive executive orders confirming the acting appoint,” he testifies.

Minutes of an emergency meeting which was given to him to read by the defense lawyer shows that former CJ, Agim told judicial commission that he was handing over to Wowo.

“Agim told the meeting that he was resigning as the CJ and handing it over to justice Wowo.” Belford read from the minutes of the meeting as order by the defense lawyer for 1^st accused (Wowo). “He said he (Agim) informed the government that he has picked up another appointment in Nigeria.”

According to Belford, he was not present at the meeting and wouldn’t know whether any judge was absent or not.  “But I did circulate the minutes of the meeting to the judicial commission members” he said.

He said he did not received any letter from the AG chambers protesting the activities that took place at the meeting

Wowo Was a Personal Friend-Pa Harry Jammeh



Pa Harry Jammeh

Pa Harry Jammeh has refuted allegations that he conspired with Ex- justice minister and Njogu Bah against ex-chief justice, Joseph Wowo who is currently standing trial in a different matter at the High Court in Banjul.

“I did not conspire with anybody and I was not aware of any conspiracy” says ex-Solicitor General and Legal Secretary.

Jammeh made this refutation as he enters his defense in the criminal trial also involving Dr Njogu Bah, former Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service and also minister of Presidential affairs Bah, and Lamin Jobarteh minister for justice, on allegations of giving false information to a public servant, abuse of office and conspiracy to carry out a lawful purpose by unlawful means.

He said he did not conspire to remove justice Wowo by an unlawful means. “Wowo was a personal friend, I have nothing against him and still do not have,” Jammeh said.

According to him, it’s his friendship with him that why he did not say anything when he was summon by then justice minister (1^st accused) to attend a meeting Wowo was part of.

Interpol Officer Testifies As Hearing Begin in Dr. Njogu & Co. Trial

Njogu Bah

Police officer attached to the Interpol unit of the Gambia police force yesterday told the High Court in Banjul that he obtained both cautionary and voluntary statements from the first accused, Lamin Jobarteh, former justice minister.

However, Musa said he did not grant the accused request to meet his lawyer before taking the cautionary statements during cross examination with layer Lamin S Camara.

“I did not because I was not entitled to do so” Jarju told the packed courtroom. “I was not the head of the investigation panel.”

Jarju was testifying in the case of Dr Njogu Bah Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service and also minister of Presidential affairs Bah, Lamin Jobarteh minister for justice while Pa Harry Jammeh, Solicitor General and Legal Secretary.

GPPC Ex-Managing Director denies economic crimes charges, others

 

Kerbba Sanyang Attorney

The former managing director of the Gambia Printing and Publishing Corporation (GPPC) Cherno Gaye alongside Dodou Nasso has denied allegations causing economic losses, an act that is detrimental to the economy of the Gambia.

 Gaye, and Nasso were on  24^th July arraigned before justice Abdullah Mikilu on nine charges of economic crime, abuse of office, disobedience of statutory and neglect of official duty at the High Court in Banjul.

According to charge sheet , the accused persons, failed to recover the sum of  D65, 362.00 being salary advances paid to employees of the corporation and D45, 000.00 being board advances paid to some members of the board.