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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Sep 2011 : 23:50:04
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FOROYAA;
1. International News : Human Rights Defenders Speak against Moses Richards’ Incarceration
2. Editorial : THE BAR, THE BENCH AND THE EXECUTIVE
3. DAILY NEWS EDITORIAL: Now That They Feel the Pinch, They Are Speaking up
Friday, September 23, 2011
"For far too long, ordinary Gambians and non-Gambians alike have been lamenting about the state of the judiciary in The Gambia, and yet our own lawyers, who are expected to be in the front line of creating a desirable legal environment, remain seemingly unconcerned for reasons that escape this paper.
Perhaps this paper would neither be incorrect nor sarcastic in observing that; for all this while, Gambian lawyers appear to be enjoying the collection of legal fees from ordinary Gambians to defend them on bogus charges, yet they never rise up to call, for instance, the elimination of the many bad laws, some of which criminalise even our fundamental rights.
But now that they expressly manifest to be feeling the pinch in the wake of the arrests, detentions, prosecutions, convictions and subsequent sentence of lawyer Moses Richards, who according to them, has a fundamental right to do what he did as an attorney. It is not unexpected to see the lawyers lining up against a system that Gambian men and women have been painfully living under for years.
Indeed, ever since our independence in 1965, we had been receiving support from other African countries, through a commonwealth arrangement. This is however now done through a bilateral arrangement and other forms, particularly with Nigeria and Nigerian legal experts. Of course our legal sector receives the largest share under this new arrangement.
Key positions in the country’s legal sector, including the chief justice, director of prosecution, director of special litigation are manned by Nigerian-born legal experts. Suffice it to say, the large number of adjudicating officials at the level of both the lower and higher courts across the country.
And the other form of arrangement under which some foreign legal experts, some of whom are being accused of running away from punishment in the wake of their alleged professional misconduct back home, find themselves working in Gambia is worth investigating.
While it is no doubt that the presence of all foreign legal experts, who have accepted to work here away from their home is highly appreciated, nonetheless 46 years after independence is enough for any nation to have qualified and competent citizens to run its affairs, including the administration of justice.
The Gambia, undoubtedly, has qualified and competent men and women with the required knowledge in the Queen’s law and our own to administer justice.
We had expected that after the appointment of first ever Gambian chief justice in the person of Abdou Karim Savage, the country will move ahead with promised plans to indigenize Gambian judiciary.
Hopes were even raised higher following a massive appointment of Gambian judges at key positions in Gambian judiciary, for instance at the higher courts.
Therefore the dismissal of the first ever Gambian chief justice and replaced by a Nigerian-born lawyer, who had returned home after the expiry of his tenure under Nigeria-Gambia government arrangement could be seen as ten steps away from the aspired indigenized judiciary after taking a step towards it.
Infact, this laudable vision has been frustrated further with the dismissal of other Gambian high court judges and magistrates without any explanation.
The problems facing Gambian judiciary cannot however be entirely blamed on the foreign legal experts. The solution is to have an independent judiciary.
We hope that Gambian lawyers will look beyond their family and join forces with other suffocating groups, such as the Gambia media, in efforts to creating a conducive legal environment for all and sundry."Daily Observer |
Edited by - kobo on 24 Sep 2011 02:43:53 |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 24 Sep 2011 : 14:34:33
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This is obviously a result of the lawyers expressed displeasure in relation to Moses Richards recent imprisonment,maybe a sort of divide and conquer scheme ? moving people about to cause them concern and take their minds off things,who knows how the mind works  Not me that's for sure 
Resignations ? shouldn't think so
http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/reshuffle-in-the-judiciary
Reshuffle in the Judiciary
Africa » Gambia
Friday, September 23, 2011
The judiciary has effected a reshuffle of high court judges in the superior courts across the country, reliable sources have informed the Daily Observer.
According to the sources, Justice Emmanuel Amadi of the High Court in Banjul has been posted to the Brikama High Court, while Justice Edrisa Mbai of the Brikama High Court has been moved to the Banjul High Court annex to the Banjul Magistrate Court. Justice Amie Joof, formerly at the Banjul High Court annex would now sit at the High Court in Banjul at the judiciary complex.
Furthermore, Justice Emmanuel Nkea would preside over the Special Criminal Court, while Justice Joseph Ikpala is now moved to the Basse High Court as the presiding judge. When contacted, the judicial secretary, John Belford confirmed the new changes.
Author: Sidiq Asemota |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 24 Sep 2011 14:37:46 |
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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 24 Sep 2011 : 21:46:09
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| My heart goes to the Richards Family. Soon all Gambians including Lt.Col. Fankung would know who really is Yahya brutal Jammeh. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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Kitabul Arerr
Gambia
645 Posts |
Posted - 25 Sep 2011 : 17:09:44
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quote:
Originally posted by toubab1020
This is obviously a result of the lawyers expressed displeasure in relation to Moses Richards recent imprisonment,maybe a sort of divide and conquer scheme ? moving people about to cause them concern and take their minds off things,who knows how the mind works Not me that's for sure
Resignations ? shouldn't think so
http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/reshuffle-in-the-judiciary
Reshuffle in the Judiciary
Africa » Gambia
Friday, September 23, 2011
The judiciary has effected a reshuffle of high court judges in the superior courts across the country, reliable sources have informed the Daily Observer.
According to the sources, Justice Emmanuel Amadi of the High Court in Banjul has been posted to the Brikama High Court, while Justice Edrisa Mbai of the Brikama High Court has been moved to the Banjul High Court annex to the Banjul Magistrate Court. Justice Amie Joof, formerly at the Banjul High Court annex would now sit at the High Court in Banjul at the judiciary complex.
Furthermore, Justice Emmanuel Nkea would preside over the Special Criminal Court, while Justice Joseph Ikpala is now moved to the Basse High Court as the presiding judge. When contacted, the judicial secretary, John Belford confirmed the new changes.
Author: Sidiq Asemota
Yes, toubab, it's a result of the lawyers expressed displeasure in relation to Moses Richards recent imprisonment, period!
Some pants are on fire, justifying this humiliating retreat....................................................l l!
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The New Gambia - Stronger Together! |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 26 Sep 2011 : 18:29:16
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DAILY NEWS WITH;
1. PDOIS’ Memorandom to Gambia Bar On the Need for Protection of Legal Practitioners’ Act
2. Halifa: Legal Representatives Deserve Immunities
"Monday, September 26, 2011
Mr Halifa Sallah, the secretary general of opposition-PODIS appears to have concurred with Gambian lawyers’ argument that lawyers should enjoy immunity in the exercise of duties. “Legal representatives deserve immunities in whatever they do in good faith in defence of their clients,” the outspoken politician cum social scientist says in a memorandum he addressed to Gambia bar on behalf of his party, PDOIS. The memorandum, which suggests the need for a protection of Legal Practitioners’ Act came following Banjul Magistrates’ Court’s sentencing of a Gambian lawyer to two years in jail with hard labour on sedition and false information charges last Monday.
A former high court judge, Moses Richards had been alleged to have lied to the sheriff of Gambia high court in Banjul that the Office of the President ordered a stay of execution of a court order that instructed the eviction of some residents in Jabang village. And private Gambian lawyers, who had protested against the prosecution of Mr Richards, condemned the sentence, describing it as atrocious and ‘an assault on the independence of the legal profession as well as a malicious attack on the independence of the bar.’
“It is a universally accepted principle of all civilized societies that an advocate must be allowed to represent his or her client without fear or favour,” Gambian bar says in a strong-worded press statement issued on Tuesday.
The disgruntled Gambian lawyers have vowed to seek disciplinary action against the Nigerian-born magistrate, Mr Alagbe, who presided over the matter.
For Mr Sallah, however, the bar association should undertake to draft a protection of legal practitioner’s Act that would guarantee immunities to legal representatives in the course of the performance of their duties.
“It is our [PDOIS’] conviction that the incorporation of fundamental rights and freedoms provisions in constitutions and our statute books is meaningless if those rights are not protected and enforced by courts,” he argues."
3. FOROYAA Editorial : HAVE YOU HEARD THEIR LAMENTATIONS MR PRESIDENT? |
Edited by - kobo on 26 Sep 2011 20:08:54 |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 27 Sep 2011 : 21:14:10
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http://www.foroyaa.gm/modules/news/article.php?storyid=7929
HAVE YOU HEARD THEIR LAMENTATIONS MR PRESIDENT?
By Publisher on 26-09-11
In a rare intervention the Bar Association has issued a Press release calling on the executive to protect Gambian citizens, the constitution and free Moses Richards.
Lawyers are considered to be members of a secure and revered profession. Doctors, Accountants and members of other professions rely on them for legal protection.
Many Gambians have come to feel that Lawyers could write and say anything in protection of their clients. The arguments they put up in court on behalf of their clients and the way they try to discredit witnesses during cross examination confirms that one cannot be a good lawyer without being able to play the role of various clients. Needless to say, despite the heated arguments between lawyers they do maintain normal relations outside the courtroom. The same thing goes when it comes to the relation between the bar and the bench.
The incarceration of a man who rose from the ranks of a Magistrate to a High Court Judge for matters relating to the executive in defence of a client is shocking to many members of the legal profession and other concerned citizens.
Since Lawyer Mboge was refused bail at one time many accused persons are wondering how lawyers could protect them if their own colleagues could not be protected by legal arguments.
Since the incarceration of Moses Richards some students have come to the Foroyaa office to claim that they are his students at the law school and have been deprived of a teacher. Some claim that he has an aged mother who is in a state of shock and may not survive the pain and anguish. Others say that they are his clients and are completely destabilized.
The President has powers to exercise prerogative of mercy. These powers are given to enable a system to rectify defects in judgment without waiting for appeals which may take a long time. The momentum in calling for executive intervention to free Moses Richards and nullify all criminal liability so that he could practise his profession is intensifying. We hope the principal Legal advisor of the president will advise him accordingly. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 27 Sep 2011 21:14:57 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2011 : 13:34:42
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| This is news,although in my opinion it should never have got to this stage,such an announcement will bring public opinion pressure to the forefront,it is unfortunate that those incarcerated cannot appear in court due to their legal council being unavailable to represent them,this to happen at a time only a few weeks away from the election date is bound to concentrate the minds of those political figures who are taking part in the voting process as an expression of the wishes of the electorate of Gambia. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2011 : 16:07:42
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“it is some individuals in the Bar, who refused to make a simple apology to end Moses Richards’ case until he [Richards] was incarcerated.”
I wonder EXACTLY he means by this unidentifiable lawyer speak ?
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2011 : 17:28:26
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Ah......... Haaaaaah...........I wonder if this could have any bearing on the Daily Observer newspaper article ?,you have your finger on the pulse KOBO that's for sure .
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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