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.

Ex-Chief Justice Yet to See a Doctor, Trial Commence

ExChief Justice Wowo

Ex-chief Justice of the Gambia has told the Special Criminal Division that he is yet to see a doctor as ordered by the same court on Monday.

Wowo who is standing trial together with the former justice minister, Lamin Jobarteh said he was not taken to the hospital.

A prison officer however, told the court that he’s just received the ordered when the judge inquired.

Wowo who is yet to get a Gambian who can bail him with a landed property is standing trial on 13 counts of abuse of office, frauds and breaches of trust, conspiracy to defeat justice, offences relating to judicial proceedings, giving false information to a public officer and assumption of authority.

While Jobarteh is only charge with two counts: conspiracy to defeat justice, offences relating to judicial proceedings

The two are said to have succumb to negotiation over a pending case before the court of appeal which act was an interference with the due executions of legal proceedings before the court of appeal.

Charges they strongly denied.

Meanwhile a police officer attached to the major crime unit has testified as the state first witness. Jawo Keita who was part of the panel said he obtained the cautionary statement from first accused (Wowo) in connection of the allegation made against him.

“I have no Gambian who can bail me with a landed property within the greater Banjul Area”. Ex-Chief Justice

Even though he was released on bail last Wednesday, Ex- chief justice Joseph Wowo was still under custody when he appeared at the High Court yesterday.

Joseph Wowo who was slammed with multiple charges alongside former justice minister Lamin A.M.S Jobarteh on Monday 19, told Justice Emmanuel Nkea that he couldn’t fulfill the bail condition adding that he’s not in good health condition.

He was released on bail to an amount  of  D,1 000, 000,00(one million dalasi) and two Gambian sureties by the same judge last week.

“I’m very sick” Wowo said. When the judge asked why he was still under custody, he replied that he has no Gambian who can bail him with a landed property within the greater Banjul area.

Meanwhile Wowo has pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of abuse of office, frauds and breaches of trust, conspiracy to defeat justice, offences relating to judicial proceedings, giving false information to a public officer and assumption of authority.

Jobarteh on the other is only charge with two counts: conspiracy to defeat justice, offences relating to judicial proceedings

“I only accept, and give orders’ detective Sowe tells court

 

Ex-NDEA PRO Abdoulie Ceesay

Detective Abdoulie Sowe has told the High Court in Banjul that he received an order and directive to join a panel at the National intelligence Agency regarding Benedict Jammeh and his co-accused.

Sowe who admitted the directives were in writing said “I cannot say the directives are written because I’m not the author,” I only accept order, and give order”.

Sowe was responding to questions  during a cross-examination with the 2^nd accused person’s (Abdoulie Ceesay) counsel, Kebba Sanyang.

Ex-NDEA PRO Abdoulie Ceesay alongside Benedict Jammeh,  Foday Barry, former director of Intelligence and Investigations at Holgam of the NDEA and Commissioner Yusupha Jatta, former head of the NDEA in the West Coast Region are facing 90 counts of economic crime, false publication, false information, abuse of office, and fabricating evidence at the High Court in Banjul.

GPU Rescues Journalist Saikou Ceesay

Saikou Ceesay

Nanama Keita

The Gambia Press Union (GPU) on Wednesday rescued journalist Saikou Ceesay, who bailed Mr Nanama Keita, former sports editor of Daily Observer newspaper at a tune of D100, 000.00.
Editor Nanama Keita was charged with false information when he petitioned his former employer, Daily Observer company for wrongful termination of his services.
Though he denied any wrong-doing, Keita however jumped bail and fled to U.S to attend a UN fellowship in the middle of the trial, leaving journalist Ceesay at the mercy of the state.
Saikou Ceesay, who stood as his surety was on Monday spend a night in detention at the headquarters of Gambia Police Force in Banjul. He was released on bail on Tuesday.
When Namana’s case resumed at the magistrates’ court in Banjul on Wednesday, the prosecutor, ASP Sainey Joof informed the court that he had filed a motion for the forfeiture of the bail bond.

Journalist Keita’s Lawyer Slams Arrest Order

Journalist Keita

The lawyer for journalist Nanama Keita has disapproved Banjul Magistrates’ Court order for the former Daily Observer newspaper’s sports editor to be arrested.
Mr Keita is charged with giving false information to a public officer when he petitioned his former employer, The Daily Observer Company to the Office of the President claiming, among others, wrongful termination of his engagement.
He however pleaded not guilty.
When the case resumed on Monday, Mr Keita, who was released on bail in the sum of D100, 000.00 was unavailable, but the court has granted his lawyer’s request for the matter to be adjourned.
Journalist Keita’s arrest warrant however came in the wake of reports that he has fled to the United States of America.
 “We’ve got information that the accused is not in town,” the prosecutor revealed upon his return in the courtroom almost 25 minutes after the case was adjourned. And the court granted his request for arrest warrant.

Lawyer Cham disapproves

“The matter should not have been called in my absence because the case was already adjourned by the magistrate,” lawyer Neneh M Cham told The Daily News in her office in Banjul on Monday.
“What the court should have done is wait till the next adjourned date and if the accused is absent, it can then issue an arrest warrant.”
Mrs Cham could not confirm reports that her client is not in the country, saying it is news to her. She added: “I don’t see any reason he should be scared of the case and I am not aware that he is not in town.”

Nanama in U.S

Meanwhile, The Daily News has however confirmed that Mr Keita has left the country via Dakar to attend the 2011 Reham al-Farra Memorial Fellowship Programme in New York, USA.
The six-week journalists fellowship, which starts Tuesday at United Nations headquarters brings together 14 young journalists representing media organisations in the Bahamas, Barbados, Cameroon, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Kiribati, Oman, Palau, Swaziland, Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Mr Keita has been confirmed as a participant, representing The Standard newspaper of The Gambia

Fired GRTS Reporter Not Surprise by His Conviction

 



magistrate Bojang



Mr Dodou Sanneh, a former staff of state-owned Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) said, his conviction by the magistrates’ court in Banjul did not surprise him. Journalist Sanneh, who was speaking to this paper however declined to comment further.
The former GRTS reporter was charged with giving false information when he petitioned GRTS to the Office of the President, claiming that he was wrongfully dismissed by the state broadcaster in 2006. He had pleaded not guilty.
“I found you as guilty as charged,” magistrate Ma-Nyima Bojang told Sanneh in a parked courtroom at Banjul Magistrates’ Court yesterday bringing an end to the journalist’s seven month-long ordeal.
She ordered Mr Sanneh to pay D500 else spend six month in jail. The reporter however walked home as a freeman after Gambia Press Union (GPU) rushed to his aid by depositing the sum at the court.
Mr Sanneh’s engagement at the state media was terminated in 2006 for no stated reason. But according to GRTS Boss, the journalist was fired for ‘bias reportage’ when he was assigned to cover a mass political rally of the main opposition-United Democratic Party (UDP) in the run up to the presidential elections in 2006.
“You (Sanneh) knew why you were sacked because you exaggerated number of people when you were assigned to cover the UDP rally in 2006,” magistrate Bojang said in her judgement. “You have been warned many times by the GRTS management but instead of apologising, you acted negatively.”
The judgement came after the testimony of three witnesses, including GRTS boss Momodou Sanyang and a senior staff, Mr Kebba Dibba for the state and two defence witnesses for journalist Sanneh.
Mr Sanndeh was left without a legal representation after defense lawyer Borry Touray withdrew his representation when the magistrate rejected his request for a re-start of the trial.

Journalist Sanneh Believes His Wife, If Alive, Would Help



Journalist Sanneh

 Journalist Dodou Sanneh, a former staff of Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), who is facing trial on a charge of false information, believes that his wife could have been supportive to him in his saga.
“My wife knew everything that transpired between me and GRTS,” Mr Sanneh told the magistrates’ court in Banjul on Wednesday.  Unfortunately, the wife is no more. She died in 2009.
The TV reporter had his services terminated by the public media in 2006. No reason was stated in his termination letter, but according to GRTS boss and a senior staff, Mr Sanneh was dismissed for ‘bias reportage’ when he was assigned to cover a mass political rally of main opposition-United Democratic Party (UDP) in the run up to the presidential election in 2006.
Sanneh however said his dismissal was wrongful. He was put under trial when he petitioned his former employer to the president’s office on that claim. But he denied any wrongdoing.
Three witnesses have testified for the state, but Mr Sanneh has only his niece to add weight  to his side of the story in the court.
When asked by the magistrate whether he has any other witness, he said, his wife could have been his witness, but she is dead and his former co workers are not cooperative.
“Some GRTS staff, who can help me produce evidences are not willing to come to court,” Mr Sanneh testified. And he even fears that his former co workers could turn out to be hostile witnesses.
“The office of the Ombudsman said the law does not allow them to come to court,” he went on to tell the court following which the magistrate ordered the ombudsman to make himself or any representative available during next sittings.
She also made an order for the accused person’s promotion letter as senior producer be produced by GRTS by next proceedings scheduled for September 5.
Testifying earlier was Nyima Drammeh, a niece to Dodou Sanneh, who told the court that his uncle, Mr Sanneh was arrested and detained for seven days when he was called to return to the office whilst he was on assignment in the North Bank of The Gambia.

University Vice Chancellor Receives D3.5m Per Annum Excluding…

 

Gumbo Touray

Lamin J Gassama, the second prosecution witness in the false information trial involving Dr Gumbo Touray, a lecturer at The University of The Gambia (UTG) on Tuesday said, UTG vice chancellor receives D3.5 million annually, excluding rent and other expenses.
Vice chancellor professor Mohammed Kah’s pay, according to Mr Gassama, an anti drug officer was revealed following an investigation which was mounted by state when Dr Touray alleged Kah of giving preferential treatment to blood relations at the country’s highest learning institution.
Dr Gumbo Touray is facing trail at the magistrates’ court in Banjul for allegedly lying to the Office of the President that Kah appoints his relatives in key positions at the University. He however pleaded not guilty.
 Testifying before Magistrate Ade Taiwo  Alagbe of the  Banjul Magistrates’ Court, the witness said that issues raised by the accused person are that the salary of the vice chancellor and other benefits that he enjoys are high and not in the interest of the University.
Gassama further testified that they have mounted an investigation upon receiving a directive from the president’s office to look into allegations contained in Mr Touray’s petition.  
He added: “during the course of the investigation it was revealed that vice chancellor Kah receives 3.5 million dalasis per annum excluding an annual rent of $10, 000.00, school fees of his children, salaries of his maids, security, electricity and water.”

No Author on Freedom Publication But…

 

Nanama Keita

Although the article on alleged financial malpractices at The Daily Observer Company, which was published on FREEDOM newspaper bears no name, The Daily Observer newspaper’s deputy editor in chief insisted that Mr Nanama Keita, a former deputy editor in chief and sports editor is the author.
“If you read the article you will know who wrote it,” Alagie Jobe responded to Keita’s lawyer’s query, but he confirmed that there was no name on the said article.
Mr Nanama Keita is alleged to have presented false information to a public officer when he petitioned pro-government Daily Observer’s managing director to the president’s office on allegations of financial malpractices at the company, following what he terms as wrongful termination of his services. He denied wrongdoing.
 “It is correct that you don’t have any personal knowledge as  to who provided the information to FREEDOM,” lawyer Neneh Cham quizzed.
Editor Jobe however said, he has no personal knowledge. He affirmed that it was as a result of the petition that the police and anti-drug agency mounted an investigation into the matter.
Alagie Jobe denied receiving any response from the office of the president directing the matter be investigated.
Editor Jobe also rebuffed that the accused came to the office on several occasions to discuss and to resolve the matter.
“He came to beg the Managing Director to forget the past. He even begged me,” Jobe said, but the lawyer argued that that statement is untrue.
Jobe also affirmed that the accused was not invited to the meeting they held subsequently after the article was published on the freedom newspaper.
 When asked if the accused person was a member of the senior management team of The Daily Observer, Jobe replied that there is no senior management team.
 “I am the only one representing the editorial team at the management level,” he added.
The case will resume Monday 22, August 2011.

Dodou Sanneh’s Counsel Wants Case to Start Over

Lawyer Touray

The counsel for the fired state-owned television reporter has filed an appeal at the High Court in Banjul for a re-start of the false information trial against his client, journalist Dodou Sanneh.
Borry Touray who took over the case two weeks ago made this announcement on Monday when the case resumed at Banjul Magistrates' Court.

Mr Sanneh is accused of giving false information to a public officer that his engagement was wrongfully terminated when he petitioned GRTS to the Office of the President. He denied the charge.
Sanneh was expected to open his defence after the magistrate ruled against his lawyer’s request to free him.
The prosecution lawyer, who stated that he is satisfied with the evidence against the accused person after calling three witnesses - a police officer and two GRTS staff - is expected to file an affidavit on the motion which will be argued on the next sitting.
The case resumes 18 August, 2011.
 It could be recalled that Dodou Sanneh, a former reporter with  GRTS was sacked on 8 September 2006, while covering the presidential campaign of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP). He was reinstated within a week, given 20 days work leave only to be sacked again on 20 November 2006  

Browsing Freedom Newspaper Costs Editor Keita His Job

journalist Keita

Pro-government Daily Observer newspaper’s sports editor was fired after he was discovered to have browsed Freedom, a U.S based Gambian online newspaper, Observer’s acting editor-in-chief has revealed.

Mr Nanama Keita is alleged to have presented false information to a public officer when he petitioned The Daily Observer’s managing director to the president’s office on allegations of financial malpractices at the company, following his dismissal, he calls wrongful.

Editor Keita however denied any wrong-doing

“When it was realised by the IT expert that Mr Nanama Keita had browsed the Freedom newspaper, the MD [Pa Malick Faye] was left with no other option but to sack him,” Editor Alagie Jobe testified in a crowded courtroom on Monday at the Banjul Magistrate’s Court.

Critical to the regime of President Yahya Jammeh, Freedom is a Gambian online newspaper owned and edited Pa Nderry Mbai, a U.S based Gambian journalist. Journalist Mbai had worked for The  Daily Observer and later The Point newspaper before he left for U.S. in 2004.  

In his testimony, Editor  Jobe said, the article on alleged financial malpractices against The  Daily Observer’s managing director, Pa Malick Faye published on Freedom came after MD Faye privileged him to control a vehicle allocated to the editorial desk.

“I head the editorial department and the accused is answerable to me,” he said.

“A day after the vehicle was handed-over to me, I received a telephone called  from the MD Faye at around 10 pm; that the editor of Freedom newspaper telephoned him on the claims that he (MD) bought a vehicle for me and [he is responsible] for other financial malpractices.”

He added: “That night I was summoned for a meeting alongside Assan Sallah, the news editor, marketing manager, and one Lamin Sanneh. The accused was not invited.”

Jobe claimed that the article that was published on Freedom newspaper was sent to them by a friend because, he said, they cannot access the website.

 However, he told the court that he knew who sent the article the moment he read it. But the same Editor Jobe in a short while denied saying that statement when cross-examined by   Neneh Cham, the defense counsel for the accused.

Jobe revealed that the accused was invited at the same night when his computer was screened by the IT expert and it was found that he has contacts with Freedom.

The moment all those things were discovered, he explained, the managing director ordered the seizure of Nanama’s computer.

Freedom, though, continued to publish articles related to the subject.

Jobe alleged the accused angrily left and wrote a statement when he knew that he could not be re-instated.

“He begged me many times to talk to the managing director,” editor Jobe revealed, referring to his former co-worker who had been with the Daily Observer company since 2003 shortly after completing his secondary school education and rose through various ranks from freelancer, columnist, staff reporter and sports editor.

“And after few days later,” editor Jobe went on, “We received investigators regarding the financial malpractices alleged by the accused.”

Nanama was subsequently charged after it was realised that the petition he wrote to the president about his wrongful termination was false, Jobe said.

Ex-GRTS Reporter’s to Prove His Innocence

 

Dodou Sanneh

Dodou Sanneh, a former reporter of the state owned television, Gambia Radio and Television Services, GRTS will defend his innocence on Monday, July18, 2011 against one  count of false information imposed on him.
This development came following an announcement yesterday July 12 by the prosecuting police officer, Superintendent Sainey Joof that the state is satisfied with evidence against the accused person after calling three witnesses - a police officer and two GRTS employee.
His case is underway at the Banjul Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Ma-Nyima Bojang.
He is accused of giving false information to a public officer that he was wrongfully terminated after almost five years.
 He found himself in a legal battle when he wrote a petition to the Office of the President concerning his unlawful termination.
 However, he denied the charged. 
Sanneh who is defending himself craved the court to adjourn the matter when the magistrate asked him to enter his defense.
 “I want to secure the service of a lawyer,” Dodou added.
The magistrate subsequently adjourned the case.
‘The accused has the right to secure a lawyer at anytime of the trial,” she told the court.
 It could be recalled that Dodou Sanneh, a former reporter of GRTS was sacked on 8 September 2006, while covering the presidential campaign of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), and reinstated within a week, given 20 days working leave, only to be sacked again on 20 November 2006.

D100, 000 Bail Bond for Former Daily Observer Sports Editor

 

Detained for  24 hours at the Police Headquarters in Banjul, the former deputy editor-in-chief and head of sports  desk of the Daily Observer newspaper has being released on bail to an  amount  of  D100,000 and one Gambian surety who must deposit his identity card  with   the Banjul Magistrate’ s  Court.  .
Nanama Keita is charged with giving false information to a public officer but has denied the accusation before Magistrate Ade Taiwo Alagbe.
He is accused of presenting a petition letter to the Office of the President at the State House, claiming wrongful dismissal as the deputy editor-in-chief and head of sports desk and financial malpractices by the Managing Director of the Daily Observer, knowing same to be false.
Lawyer Lamin Camara, after the plea of the accused made a bail application and prosecutor Sainey Joof did not make any objection.
The case continues   July 19, 2011 for hearing.

Ex-GRTS Reporter’s False Information Trial Adjourned

 

The criminal trial of Dodou Sanneh former reporter of the state owned television, Gambia Radio and Television Services, GRTS which is underway at the Banjul Magistrate’s Court has been adjourned by Magistrate Ma-Nyima Bojang due to the absence of the prosecution witness in court.
Sanneh is facing a one count charged of giving false information to a public officer that he was wrongfully terminated after almost five years.
He found himself in a legal tussle when he wrote a petition to the Office of the President concerning his ‘unlawful’ termination.
Dodou Sanneh denied giving any false information.
When the case resumed yesterday, prosecutor Sainey Joof told the court that his witnesses are not in court.

GRTS Boss:‘We Don’t Play With State House Matters



GRTS Director General

 Mr Modou Sanyang, director general of state-owned Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) said, his institution does not play with State House matters, especially concerning the head of state.
GRTS boss made this remark yesterday while testifying against former GRTS reporter facing trial on charges of false information.
Mr Dodou Sanneh’s services at the state broadcaster were terminated in 2007 for ‘bias’ reportage while covering opposition-UDP’s 2009 presidential political rallies.
Mr Sanneh however said, his services were wrongfully terminated. His prosecution came when he petitioned GRTS management to the office of the president to the effect.
“His [Mr Sanneh] first termination was due to insubordination,” Mr Modou Sanyang testified at the magistrates’ court in Banjul yesterday.
He said, Mr Sanneh failed to submit report on a courtesy call he was assigned to cover at State house.
“I could not take that! We don’t play with State house matters, especially when it involved the head state,” GRTS boss told the court.

Director of Physical Planning Ends Testimony in Richards’ Case

Moses Richards

Momodou Dunkung Colley, director of Physical Planning on Monday ended testimony at the Banjul Magistrate’s Court in the false information and sedition trial involving lawyer Moses Richards.
The former judge, now private lawyer is alleged to have told a court official that the office of the president ordered a stay of execution of a writ of possession in a civil suit; thus gave false information to a public servant and brought contempt into the person of the president of the republic.

Police Officer Denies Ex-GRTS’ Wrongful Termination

A Police Officer attached to the Police Headquarters in Banjul yesterday told the Banjul Magistrate’s Court presided over by Ma-Nyima Bojang that investigation has shown that former state owned television (GRTS) reporter was not wrongfully terminated.
“After the panel findings” said Ismaila Mbaye “we find out that he accused was not wrongfully terminated”
Mbaye was testifying as the third prosecution witness in the one count criminal charge pressed by the state against Dodou Sanneh, former GRTS reporter.
 He is accused of giving false information to a public officer that he was wrongfully terminated following a petition he wrote to the office of the president concerning his unlawful termination.
He however denied giving any false information.
According to the witness, some members of the panel visited the office of the Ombudsman and GRTS following a petition letter they received from the President’s Office that the accused was dismissed without any reason (s) advance.
He said that the accused was invited and interrogated about the allegation. He added that the accused also wrote his statement.
He said at GRTS and the office of the Ombudsman, statements were obtained from some staff which he said illustrated that the accused was not unlawfully dismissed.
“Did you find out until the time of writing the petition to the President’s Office that no reason was advanced for my termination,” the accused posed to the witness during cross-examination. “No, I did not,” the witness responded.
The witness also told the court that he did not bother to find out about the termination letter of the accused during their investigations at GRTS, if any reason (s) was advance.
“Did you in your investigation find out when Momodou Sanyang, GRTS Director General submitted the reason (s) for my termination at the office of the Ombudsman,” the accused asked and the witness said he did not.
Still under cross-examination, the witness also said he did not know if pressures were made to the GRTS management to advance reason (s) for the accused termination by the office of the Ombudsman following a case he (the accused) filed.
“I don’t know, because I was not among those investigators who went to GRTS and to the Ombudsman’s office,” the witness advance but the accused put it to him: “This means all the information you got, you were informed.”
“No,” he said but could not tell the court the reason (s) why the accused was terminated when asked by the accused.
The trial will continue June 30, 2010.

President Jammeh Order Us to Follow Eric T. Janneh

One Momodou Badjie, a tailor by profession and a native of Banjulinding on Monday informed the Banjul Magistrates’ Court presided over Magistrate Ade Taiwo Alagbe that the villagers of Banjulunding were ordered by President Jammeh to follow Eric T. Janneh as the alkalo of the village.

Badjie was testifying against the two loyalist of APRC who are standing trial on four counts: false information, making false documents, uttering false documents and prohibition of conduct of breaching the peace.

They are alleged to have written to the Secretary General Office of the President, stating that the alkalo of Banjulunding is disuniting the villagers and grabbing lands.

Both accused persons pleaded not guilty.

Manneh said this was made clear to them by the then Secretary General Njogu Bah in the presence of Rongo, his father, Eric T. Janneh and himself at the president’s office, State House.

At the president’s office, he said: “The Secretary General told us that he did not want to hear anything from us and that the president was aware of the problems in Banjulinding and that he wants to reunite and we should recognized Eric T Janneh as the alkalo.”

He said the then Secretary General also advised Eric T. Janneh to treat all the villagers equally and they all agreed before they left.

He said when they got back to the village they got another letter that they want Foday Jambang as their alkalo, which he said was written by Rongo, the first accused.

He added that they reported the matter to the National Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) office where his statement was taken by an officer.

He said later in the day Eric together with some elders were invited to the NDEA and were informed by the officers that they had a directive from the president and they have only two options: either to settle matter among themselves or take it to court, but he said the alkalo pleaded that the case be settled peacefully among themselves.

Badjie said Eric was finally appointed as the chairman of council of elders at the NDEA and they were told by the officers that anybody who disregards what has been settled had disobeyed the president.

Momodou Badjie told the court: “After four days Malang Badjie called a meeting, took out a letter and gave it to the first accused to read who told the gathering that the letter is from the president’s office and that Malang Badjie is the new chairman of council of elders.”

The witness said the first prosecution witness protested against Rongo’s statement, but Rongo responded that selecting elders of their village was not the work of the NDEA.

“The first accused admitted reading the letter after reporting the matter again to NDEA, but denied knowing where the letter was from Momodou explained. He added that the official vowed to investigate the matter but told the court that he is not aware if they did as they promised.

The magistrate at this juncture adjourned the case till June 29 for continuation of hearing.