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Momodou
Denmark
11735 Posts |
 Posted - 14 Dec 2016 : 12:37:15
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Lawyers boycott sittings at high court
By Bruce Asemota
The Point: Wednesday, December 14, 2016
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/lawyers-boycott-sittings-at-high-court
 The High Court premises at the Independence Drive in Banjul were calm and relatively deserted by members of the Gambia Bar Association, as many began observing their boycott of the courts.
A press statement issued by The Gambia Bar Association, and read out by its president to the media yesterday relating to the Judiciary, stated: “We ask all members of the Bar Association and the staff of the Judiciary, in particular, to boycott the courts in solidarity with the people until such time that the Government of the outgoing President Jammeh accepts the result of the election and hand over power to the President-elect.”
When our reporter visited the Judiciary complex yesterday morning, most courtrooms were either closed or those that opened were empty as no private lawyers were seen around or in the courtrooms.
The Cadis’ Court was opened, but no lawyer was visible inside the courtroom as they had some proceedings until midday.
Justice E.O. Dada sat for a while in her court, where two cases were heard, which were the criminal trial involving the state against Momodou Sabally and the criminal case involving the state against seven accused persons: Oumie Saffiatou Jallow, Mansa Bah and 5 others.
However, there were other trial prisoners inside Justice Dada’s court, and their cases were not called due to the relative absence of their lawyers in court.
A trial prisoner told our reporter that he has a lawyer, but his lawyer was not in court, noting that the Bar Association boycott of the courts would have immense effects on him and other trial prisoners.
The trial prisoner opined that the Bar Association should have asked lawyers representing trial prisoners to attend court.
Meanwhile, the state was represented in both cases by senior state counsel A.M. Yusuf.
Justice O. Ottaba’s court was opened, but was empty with no one inside the courtroom.
The court doors of Justice Martin U. Okoi, Justice O. Uduma and Justice Agbola were closed, while Justice Amina Saho-Ceesay’s court was open.
Related Topic: The Bar faults Jammeh’s election rejection
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11735 Posts |
Posted - 20 Dec 2016 : 11:19:49
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Lawyers’ boycott continues at the high court
The Point: Tuesday, December 20, 2016
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/lawyers-boycott-continues-at-the-high-court
Members of The Gambia Bar Association have continued to boycott sittings at the High Court in Banjul, and show no signs of any compromise or returning to the courts, before the country’s superior courts proceed on Christmas vacation later this week.
It would be recalled that the Gambia Bar Association issued a press statement urging all members of the Bar and staff of the Judiciary, in particular, to boycott the courts in solidarity with the Gambian people, until such time the Government of the outgoing President Yahya Jammeh accepts the result of the election, and hand over power to President-elect Adama Barrow.
It has been a week since the lawyers began boycotting court sittings at the high court and other subordinates courts across the country.
When our reporter visited the High Court complex in Banjul yesterday, the court premises were calm and deserted, even though some of the courtrooms were opened.
The judges have been reporting for work; some were in their chambers; others were seen around the verandah, and some seen going and coming from the Chief Justice’s Chambers.
Most of the Judiciary staff were present for the day’s work, with the drivers seen sitting at their usual corners, and others washing a judge’s (their boss’s) car.
At the registry and account’s department, the secretaries and clerks were busy doing their normal daily work, and in other offices the clerks, registrars, secretaries and interpreters were also seen at work; the library was opened.
The usual bustle of prison warders escorting trial prisoners into the court premises was absent.
No private lawyers were seen around or in the courtrooms, as most courtrooms were either empty or the doors shut.
Meanwhile, Mass Fatajo, Ada Gaye, former permanent secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Ebrima Jawara and some other accused persons were seen waiting outside the verandah of Justice E.O. Dada’s court; but they waited for a while, and left.
Others left after they had discovered that their case was not proceeding.
This reporter went to the Attorney General’s Chambers, and met state lawyers who expressed their willingness to go to court, but said they could not do so in the absence of trial prisoners and their legal counsel.
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Lawyers boycott sittings at high court
