Lawyer Seeks Bail for ex-Finance Minister

Mambury Njie

By Binta A Bah

Lawyer Lamin S Camara has seek for the release of former Minister of Finance and Secretary General, Mambury Njie on bail yesterday at the High Court in Banjul.

The affidavit in support of bail sworned by the accused wife urged the court to use it ‘discretion’ and warrant the accused bail.

“The applicant has been on bail before in connection with these charges by both the Banjul Magistrate Court and the High Court,” Camara submitted.

Njie, Ex- Minister is standing trial on two counts of economic crime and neglect of duty.

He is accused of recklessly causing the Gambia Government loss, by failing to advise government on matters pertaining to mining operations of Carnegie Minerals Gambia Limited between 2001 and 2006 while he was the Secretary General and head of Civil Servant.

Lawyer Lamin Camara

Allegations he strongly denied.

“The applicant won’t interfere with investigation. He has no prior criminal record and most importantly he will not jump bail because his travelling documents are with the NIA” He said.

Editor Jobe’s Lawyer Wants Court to Subpoena Doctor

The High court in Banjul will issue a subpoena to the doctor who treated the former editor-in-chief of the Daily Observer newspaper to testify as defense witness.
The doctor’s name was not mentioned when the case resumes onbut he is expected to come from the department of surgery, hospital management board at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital.
Alhajie Jobe is standing trial on a five-count charge of an act with seditious intention, seditious publication, and possession of seditious publication, giving false information to public servant, and reckless and negligent act. His co-accused, Mbye Bittay is facing a single count of making preparation to do act with seditious intention.  
Both accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. Jobe’s counsel, S Gaye said “He is a very crucial witness” referring to the doctor to be subpoenaed when the judge, Justice Emmanuel Ahmadi asked him: “Why not close the case”. “The witness is a doctor and he treated the accused,” Gaye said

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.

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.