By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The leader of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, has claimed that the detention of the party’s campaign manager, Momodou Sabally, in connection to the recent tragic shooting which led to the death of two police officers, was politically motivated, saying while the police may be able to incarcerate them, they cannot silence the UDP.

Earlier this afternoon, the UDP conducted a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Manjai amid the ongoing detention by police of two of the party’s officials, Momodou Sabally and Sherrifo Bayo Sonko for questioning.

Sabally is in detention in connection to a post on his Facebook page preceding the shooting and death of two police officers on Tuesday night, September 12, at Sukuta-Jabang Traffic Lights.

Speaking about his campaign manager’s detention, the UDP leader stated that it was a deliberate attempt to provoke both Sabally and the party. He made it clear that although the police may imprison them, they will not prevent them from speaking out because Sabally is just one of many leaders in the party.

“There is nothing anyone can conclude this more than politically motivated arrest. [It is] an arrest intended to silence Momodou Sabally.

“But of course, you know, Momodou Sabally is like several leaders in the UDP. You can incarcerate us, but you cannot stop us from talking because the ideas that we stand for, even if you incarcerate us, they will continue to flood in the street and people will talk,” Darboe said.

Speaking extensively about the issue of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU), Darboe said what is happening today to their party members is the same thing that had been happening during the regime of Yahya Jammeh.

He said the police should treat the members of his party just like other citizens in a manner the law stipulates.

Darboe, who was a former Gambian vice president, said despite all that is happening between the Police and the party, they will never be provoked.

“We will never be provoked. We will show you that what you are planning or what you are looking to, the UDP will not tell for it,” he said.

Darboe, just like Sabally on his Facebook post, said the PIU officers have been brutalizing Gambians. He cited instances where the police treated other people in a manner that was unacceptable or contrary to how the police should handle citizens.

Yesterday, Momodou Sabally was invited for questioning by the police at the Kairaba Police Station in connection to the murder of two Policemen on Tuesday night. He was invited for a post he made on Facebook preceding to the incident. He was later detained.

One Ousainou Bojang has been identified as a suspect in the attack. The police say he has been cooperating with them in their investigations.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Following the Gambia Government Spokesman’s statement linking the attack and killing of two security officers to the Brikama Area Council (BAC), the Chairman of the council, Yankuba Darboe, has said it is “madness” to link the alleged killer of the two police officers to him and his council, saying they “are politicians and not criminals”.

On Thursday, during an interview on Coffee Time on West Coast Radio, Sankareh claimed that the suspect works at the Brikama Area Council (a police press briefing earlier today contradicts that).

“The Gambia government witch-hunt against myself continues. In their desperate attempt to stain my character, they want to connect me to the cop killer! I do not know the said killer, and it is madness to think that I have anything to do with his madness!”

The BAC supremo further refuted claims that Ousianou Bojang, the primary suspect in the murder of the two police officers, was in Banjul during his last court hearing.

According to Sankareh, the suspect was seen in video footage at the court hearing of Chairman Darboe. However, Mr Darboe dismissed that, noting that the person was not Ousainou Bojang but his security detail personnel.

“This is the picture of my security detail personnel that the Gambia Police Force, the Gambia Government spokesperson and their social media surrogates are peddling to be Ousainou Bojang, (the cop killer) [sic] at my last court hearing in Banjul.

“He is clearly not Ousainou Bojang! This harassment and political persecution by the Gambia Police Force on the pretext of criminal investigation has to stop! We are politicians and not criminals,” Yankuba said.

Yesterday, after the government spokesman linked the alleged killer to a security officer at the Brikama Area Council, the management of the council refuted the claim and described the assertion from Sankareh as “malicious” and “misleading”.

By: Alieu Jallow

The Judiciary Remuneration Bill which was introduced by Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dawda Jallow, on Monday, September 4th and put before National Assembly Members (NAMs) on Tuesday, September 12th for consideration and approval, has been rejected by parliament with 18 votes for and 21 against.

During the plenary session, the majority of the NAMs opposed the bill, with Hon. Almameh Gibba, the National Assembly Member for Foni Kansala, describing it as a threat to The Gambia.

“This bill is a volcano bill to Gambian people. Let’s trash this out and bury it 40 feet down. We don’t have to waste our time on this. We have to be honest,”

Most NAMs submitted their objections to passing this bill, while a few urged for it to be revised and introduced again before the August Assembly. The major points of contention include:

1. A Judicial Officer shall receive a salary, allowances, pension, or gratuity as outlined in the Act’s Regulations, and such payments will be charged to the Consolidated Fund.

2. The salary, allowances, and benefits of a Judicial Officer cannot be reduced during their tenure.

3. The pension or gratuity of a Judicial Officer cannot be reduced after they have left their position.

The following provisions are included in the bill:

1) While in office, the Chief Justice and judges will be given a fully furnished accommodation with utilities, without any charge or allowance.

2) The Chief Justice and judges will also receive additional payments for incidental expenses, including telephone and robing allowance.

During the plenary, 21 parliamentarians voted against the bill, while 18 voted for it to be scrutinized and passed. The bill has faced widespread opposition from the public and NAMs, who view it as discriminatory and a threat to democracy.

By: Alieu Jallow

Many National Assembly Members (NAMs) have questioned the Judiciary Remuneration Bill, which is being debated over by NAMs in parliament, with some criticizing its urgency as a tactic to take advantage of Gambians and manipulate them.

On Monday, September 4, the Attorney General and Justice Minister, Dawda Jallow, tabled the bill which seeks to make wide-ranging changes to the conditions of service for judicial officers. This includes providing lucrative allowances, pensions, vehicles, accommodations and even payments to spouses of judges who died in office.

The Hon. Minister and Attorney General Dawda Jallow urged the parliament to pass the bill, stating that the judiciary is the only organ of government without an act of parliament.

Hon. Sainey Jawara, NAM for lower Nuimi, argued that the bill is not budget-friendly for farmers and poor people and that he will not support it.

He stressed that many other priorities deserve attention.
The NAM for Sami questioned the urgency of the bill, arguing that many people are suffering and wish to address issues that affect the general public.

The debated bill is raising many questions from parliamentarians, who prefer to see an amendment of the draft that was flushed out in 2022 by the 5th legislature. They believe that passing this bill will set a precedent for other institutions to come up with their own bills, making it a piecemeal provision of the draft constitution.