By Lamin Njie

Inspector General of Police has dismissed claims he overstepped his authority in the case of Kairaba Fatty.

Kairaba Fatty of Banjulinding risks facing court action after a fist-fight that he was involved in. He allegedly assaulted Assan Gitteh on Friday at the Banjulinding horticulture garden. He later went to Yundum police station to report the matter only for him to be arrested and charged.

A police officer handling the case reportedly accused the IGP Mamour Jobe of interference and overstepping his authority when he (IGP Jobe) reportedly called the police station through Fatty’s wife and asked that he (Fatty) be released on bail. IGP Jobe also asked that Assan Gitteh who was also arrested be released.

Speaking to The Fatu Network on Saturday, IGP Jobe said when “I received a call that this thing (fight) happened, I enquired and I was told that Kairaba was the one who came to the station and as a result of his report, the other party was invited to the police station to clarify.”

“So with the clarification, the police [later] came to understand that it was not the way Kairaba reported it. In fact the two fought and there were witnesses to say that Kairaba was the one that assaulted so they were all cautioned and charged,” Jobe said.

“So when I got that information, that was the time that I called and asked them to give them bail and to report to the following day when the SO will review the case at his level.

“So the SO will review whether it’s in the interest of peace to take it court or whether it’s not in the interest of peace to take two family friends to court. But my interest was once the investigation was completed, let them release them on bail since the offence they are charged of is bailable and the two are responsible people who have families.”

Kairaba Fatty is believed to be a member of President Barrow Youths for National Development. Kairaba and the people of Banjulinding have not been seeing eye to eye since a court ordered that he vacate a store he is occupying after he defaulted on the rent payments.

By Lamin Njie

Alpha Robinson on Friday toured Karpowership’s power vessel, the first time since his appointment as the new managing director of Nawec.

Karpowership is a top Turkish power production company that has been working with Nawec to supply electricity to Gambians. Karpowership began operating in The Gambia in 2018.

“This is a visit that I was pleased to do. It’s part of a program I started since I took over the office of MD. I have gone round visiting different installations [but] Karpowership is an interesting exception,” Robinson said.

Friday’s visit came after a courtesy call paid to Mr Robinson by officials of Karpowership.

“It arose from a meeting that was held in my office when I the Karpower team requested audience and I was more than happy to grant that. It was a courtesy call and we talked about Karpower and its contribution. I decided that I will accept the offer to come and visit the ship,” Robinson said.

Robinson hailed the way Karpowership produces electricity as “a very innovative concept and more than anything as someone who is interested in technology I wanted to come and see what it is, how it works.”

“I know that Karpower had stepped in when the country was in a very dire situation and I am sure all Gambians are grateful for the service,” he added.

Earlier, the assistant plant manager of Karpowership in The Gambia while welcoming Robinson to the floating power plant said his company was looking forward to a continued partnership with Nawec.

“Our production capacity is around 35MW and with that capacity we are almost providing like 60/70 percent of electricity consumption in The Gambia. In the powership, we have 25 experts and also we have Gambian workers as well, almost the same number (25). We are very happy to be here and we hope we can continue this partnership,” Cem Celik said.

By Lamin Njie

The Drug Law Enforcement Agency of The Gambia has rejected allegations one of its agents was behind the gruesome murder of a 25-year-old student.

DLEAG has come under sharp public criticisms when rumours milled round town that one of its operatives was involved in the stabbing to death of Kebba Secka, a student of the University of The Gambia.

The spokesman of the agency Ousman SaidyBah told The Fatu Network they findings have ‘revealed that there were no sanctioned operations within the said area at the said time.’

“We contacted all our regional commands, that is the Kanifing Municipality, the Banjul regional command and the West Coast to ascertain whether any officers were on operations in those areas and all that they revealed to us was that they were not on any operations there,” SaidyBah added.

Kebba Secka was a student of UTG School of Business and Public Administration but was reportedly stabbed to death by an individual that many claimed is an agent of the country’s anti-illicit drugs body. The incident reported occurred on Wednesday at Kololi Tavern.

By Lamin Njie

President Adama Barrow will travel to United Arab Emirates on Sunday, the presidency has said.

In a statement on Friday, State House said President Barrow will on Sunday July 14, 2019 embark on an official visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The trip will be the president’s third foreign trip in two weeks.

President Adama Barrow on June 28 travelled to Abuja, Nigeria to attend the 55th session of the Ecowas heads of state summit.

On July 6, President Barrow travelled to Niamey, Niger to attend the 12th extra-ordinary session of the heads of state and government of the African Union.

By Lamin Njie

A former Gambian diplomat in Saudi Arabia has said that Saudi’s King Salman was the man behind last year’s donation of 11 million dalasis to Gambian pilgrims, not President Adama Barrow.

Gambian pilgrims numbering 1700 were left astounded in August last year when the Gambian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Omar Gibril Sallah told them President Adama Barrow was giving them 11,250,000 dalasis. But the development triggered great criticism in the country and one week later, the government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh spoke on the issue saying it was an ‘anonymous’ donor who gave out the money.

A Gambian diplomat who was in Saudi Arabia at the time Ebrima Dibba has told The Fatu Network it was King Salman who donated the money to the pilgrims.

“That was from King Salman. [It was] Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry and five other countries [to support the pilgrims],” Dibba added.

A notorious goat thief, Ndeneh Ndow, has been handed a custodial sentence of one year imprisonment, the spokesman of Gambia Police Force has said.

Ndeneh Ndow was arrested by Serrekunda police taskforce in May and later sentenced to D10,000 fine by the Kanifing Magistrates Court.

The notorious thief who tapes the mouth of goats when stealing them has been arrested again but this time he was slammed with a custodial sentence of one year without any option of a fine, police spokesman Lamin Njie said.

“The Infamous cattle thief was arrested last week by the same Serekunda Police Taskforce patrol  team along with Dawda Badjie who equally recieved a D10,000 fine in default to serve one year imprisonment for his involvement in the crime.

“They were arrested in possession of nine cattle including four goats  and five sheep respectively.

In this regard, the office of the Inspector general of Police hereby encourages the general public especially those whose cattle maybe missing to visit the SK Police Station for identification,” he added.

Dr Ismaila Ceesay a senior Lecturer and the head of Political Science department at the University of The Gambia (UTG) has charged students who have graduated from Scannaid Upper and Senior School to be disciplined.

Dr Ceesay last Saturday gave an inspirational speech on discipline as hundreds of students graduated from Scannaid Upper and Senior School.

Dr Ceesay who is recognized as one of the most influential youths in Africa and known for his excellence in the fight for freedom of expression and human rights urged the graduates to maintain discipline in all their engagements.

“Today, I attribute my success to discipline and discipline more than knowledge played a key role on my path to success,” he said.

Dr Ceesay, honored by many for his Pan-Africanism and his humanitarian activism in the new Gambia described discipline as the a concept which involves doing what is required consistently in order to achieve the desired set goal in life.

“Discipline is the key to success in education…Education is about values as well as knowledge and skills,” he said values such as respect, courtesy and consideration are the foundations of a civilized society.”

Furthermore, he said   even nature is governed by certain laws to maintain perfect harmony and beauty, nature is discipline and everything in this world is expected to follow the discipline.

He enthused that discipline should be inculcated from a very young age; talent and genius alone are not enough to achieve success -discipline has an equally important role to play in national development.

“The fact that development rests squarely on individual discipline has never been more apparent than it is in contemporary times. Empirical evidence has shown that societies in which discipline is at its highest are also the fastest developing whilst the least disciplined societies only witness ever worsening conditions,” he highlighted.

Moreover, he urged the graduating class of 2019 to not let cynics limit their horizon and their resolve to reach the stars.

“See opportunities in every obstacle, in every challenge… and always remember that every challenge is an opportunity to succeed as the human mind is pre-programmed with the ability to embrace challenges,” he said.

Finally, he argued that without discipline it would be extremely had to be success in all works of life.

“Class of 2019, we need you. The world needs you. Go out and change the world. Be the best versions of yourselves and make us all proud,” he concluded.

By Lamin Njie

Momodou Sabally has blasted government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh over his behaviour towards The Fatu Network.

An angry APRC mob on Monday attacked two journalists as they attempted to film the party’s solidarity gathering held for Yankuba Touray at the high court in Banjul. One of the assaulted journalists was Modou Saidy of The Fatu Network.

On Tuesday, the Gambia government through its spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh issued a statement, but this statement was intentionally oblivious to Saidy’s ordeal.

Former secretary general and head of the civil service Momodou Sabally speaking on the issue said Sankareh ‘has shown us his state of mind.’

“Two journalists were attacked at the same venue but the government spokesman decided to condemn the attack on only one, the Tubab; in his own words “a French journalist, Mr. Romain Chanson duly accredited to report for Radio France International (RFI) in The Gambia,” Sabally said on his official Facebook page.

Sabally, also an author and motivational speaker, added: “By his act of focusing on the ‘very important’ French journliast and keeping mute on the matter of the attack on the Gambian journalist, the government spokesman has shown us his state of mind.

“Therefore he needs a dose of Bob Marley: ‘emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds; how long shall they kill our prophets; while we stand aside and look?”

A migrant detention center in Tripoli, hit by a deadly air strike last week, is being gradually emptied following a decision by Libyan authorities to release its inmates, the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said on Wednesday.

The July 3 air strike on Tajoura detention center killed 53 people and injured 130, according to the latest death toll from the World Health Organization.

The United Nations has said the strike on the camp, holding an estimated 350 people this week, could amount to a war crime.

The strike occurred as eastern forces under Khalifa Haftar keep up a ground and aerial offensive to wrest control of Tripoli from the U.N.-backed government. The two sides blame each other for the attack.

It left frightened migrants and refugees desperate to leave the center in an eastern suburb of the capital. The United Nations has also called for the migrants to evacuated to safety.

“At some point yesterday (Tuesday), a decision was taken by authorities to release the detainees. They were also given an option, they were not compelled,” UNHCR spokesman Charlie Yaxley said.

In all, some 260 migrants immediately left and walked to a UNHCR departure facility where they were allowed to stay overnight and given emergency assistance. They are expected to go to a community day center where they will receive food, water and medical care, he said. (Reuters)

By Lamin Njie

Social activist and human resources expert MamaLinguere Sarr has vowed to be all ears, as she prepares to step into her new role.

Reports on Tuesday emerged of Sarr’s appointment as the new director of administration of Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation.

Ms Sarr confirmed the news in a Facebook post late Tuesday saying: “Subhanalla!!! I can’t possibly respond to all the well wishers and messages but am beyond humbled and grateful to all of you for the phone calls and messages of support and prayers.

“I thank the Board of Social Security Housing Finance Corporation for the offer of appointment as Director of Human Resources and Administration and look forward to serving the staff. One thing I can promise is a listening ear and a passion for working as a team to make a difference.

“[I] am saddened that I never got the chance to inform my family and friends before the news was leaked to freedom newspaper as I only received confirmation today. That was rather unfortunate and I apologise to everyone sincerely and thank Pa Nderry MBai for reaching out.

“Please keep me in your prayers, I am under no illusion that this will be a walk in the park but with your prayers and hard work, the possibilities are endless.Once again am deeply humbled, thank you so much.”

By Lamin Njie

The Gambia government said Tuesday it has not entered into any talks for former president Yahya Jammeh to return to The Gambia.

Interim leader of opposition APRC told journalists last week the party was taking part in negotiations for the former president to return to the country.

Government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh in a statement on Tuesday said “the Gambia government categorically denies the claims as totally meritless.”

“To be abundantly sure, there are no on-going negotiations between The Gambia government and any party or parties for the return of the exiled leader, Yaya Jammeh, and Gambians are urged not to pay heed to such rumour or bogus claims,” Mr Sankareh added.

Meanwhile Ebrima Sankareh has said that “it has come to the attention of the Gambia Government that during Monday’s trial of former APRC junta minister, Yankuba Touray, elements expressing solidarity with the accused Touray, had allegedly assaulted a French journalist, Mr. Romain Chanson duly accredited to report for Radio France International (RFI) in The Gambia.”

“The Barrow Government condemns the reported assault as a blatant act of cowardice and a flagrant violation of press freedom.

“Those who assaulted the journalist are urged to desist from such reprehensible acts and The Gambia government will not hesitate to initiate criminal prosecution against such elements.

“Citizens are reminded that under current dispensation, the assault, torture, harassment and or intimidation of journalists is utterly criminal and severely punishable by law,” he said.

By Lamin Njie

Melville Robertson Roberts is yet to return to The Gambia, eight days after an ultimatum seeking for his return to the country from United Kingdom.

Robertson Roberts, a senior official at the ministry of foreign affairs, is caught up in a massive sexual abuse and sexual assault scandal that have shocked the nation. At least five women accuse him of sexually abusing them but Mr Robertson Roberts has denied the allegations.

A letter written by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs suspending Melville Roberts, head of America Division, and to return to The Gambia within 7 days was leaked on social media on July 1.

“The way he would respond to the letter will determine our next line of action,” a spokesman of the foreign affairs ministry Saikou Ceesay, told The Fatu Network on Monday after he was contacted on whether Robertson Roberts has returned to the country. Ceesay added he was not of him returning to the country.

Robertson Roberts is currently in UK where he has graduated with Masters in International Law and Diplomacy at Oxford University.

The foreign ministry had asked him to return within seven days or it will nullify his diplomatic passport and inform the UK authorities.

Press release by GPU

The Gambia Press Union condemns the attack on the cameraman of The Fatu Network and reporter for Radio France International (RFI) at the High Court in Banjul Monday afternoon by supporters of the former ruling party.

The two journalists were allegedly attacked by the sympathisers of the Alliance for Patriotic, Reorientation and Construction (APRC) who were at the court complex to show solidarity with Yankuba Touray, one of the founders of the party who is being tried for murder.

Touray has been accused of killing Ousman Koro Ceesay, a former finance minister, in June 1995 during the formative years of the government of Yahya Jammeh.  He was then minister of Local Government and Lands.

Journalists Modou Saidy of The Fatu Network, and Romain Chanson of RFI were outside the High Court complex to take footage of the APRC supporters when the militants advanced towards them.

Their cameras were almost seized and destroyed by an APRC mob and Chanson was almost pelted with a heavy stone by one of the supporters had he not take to his heels.

The GPU is concerned about the frequency at which attacks of this nature are happening.

This is the second attack on journalists, allegedly, by supporters of APRC in twelve months.  In August 2018, the GRTS news crew was verbally and physically assaulted, allegedly, by the supporters during funeral proceedings of late Asombi Bojang, the mother of former president, Yahya Jammeh.

The police on their part have failed to provide protection to journalists in hostile situations, nor have they investigated any of the seven previous attacks on journalists even though official complaint has been lodged in all the cases.

Mustapha K. Darboe, vice president of the GPU, said: “The Union is troubled that attacks on journalists in the execution of their professional duties by party supporters is becoming frequent.”

He said the GPU is not taking the attack on journalists by any political party lightly.

“If this is not stopped, it could warrant a media blackout for all the activities of parties guilty of such misconducts,” he affirmed.

The GPU is calling on political parties to take proactive measures to educate and sensitise their supporters to understand that journalists are not enemies.

Meanwhile, the Union’s leadership has engaged the deputy public relations officer of the APRC, Dodou Jah, and he expressed regret over the conduct of their party supporters towards Saidy and Chanson.

However, Jah said that the APRC as a party has been known to be peaceable and would continue to conduct its activities in such manners.

He promised to talk with the party leadership to reiterate their call for the party militants to continue to conduct and comport themselves in peaceful manner.

By Momodou Justice Darboe

An angry mob of APRC militants on Monday assaulted two journalists who were covering the trial of a former APRC heavyweight Yankuba Touray.

Cameraman Modou Saidy of The Fatu Network was attacked and manhandled as he attempted to film a solidarity gathering organised for Yankuba Touray who stands accused of causing the death of former finance minister Ousman Koro Ceesay in 1995.

“Don’t damage my camera. I have the right to cover this gathering,’ Saidy could be heard shouting at the top of his voice in an attempt to free himself from his assailants.

Speaking in an interview with The Fatu Network, Romen Sancho of RFI who was also attacked by APRC militants, explained that: “I’m just here to cover the demonstration and there was someone who wielded a big stone against me. It was then that I dashed to the court precincts for safety.

“I felt scared because this was the first time I saw such a crowd advancing towards me. I just saw a crowd advancing towards me, trying to attack me.”

Also speaking to The Fatu Network, Modou Saidy said he was though perturbed by the attack, it will not deter him from executing his journalistic work.

“They came in droves to me asking me to stop taking pictures. Some of them my shirt around my neck while Rambo Jatta held me by the hand. There were some insulting me while another guy violently pushed me,” Saidy said.

By Momodou Justice Darboe

The state is contemplating slamming Yankuba Touray with ten more murder charges and other serious offences.

This disclosure was made on Monday by the attorney general and minister of justice during the trial of Mr Touray at the High Court in Banjul.

Yankuba Touray stands accused of causing the death of Ousman Koro Ceesay in 1995 but he refused to enter his plea when the charge of murder was read out to him on Monday, saying he was relying on his purported constitutional immunity and would not enter a plea.

Presiding, Justice Ebrima Jaiteh said the charges have been read out to Touray but since he told the court that he had entered a plea of constitutional immunity, the court will enter a plea of not guilty on his behalf.

But the attorney general and minister of justice, Abubakarr Tambadou representing the State, rose up to admit that the court was indeed right to enter a plea of not guilty on Touray’s behalf under the circumstances. However, he argued that Touray’s refusal to enter a plea and his claim to constitutional immunity should be viewed as a challenge to the jurisdiction of the high court to hear and determine the murder charges against him. He added that it was a challenge that cannot be ignored.

Still addressing the court, the justice minister argued that the claim to constitutional immunity by Touray is ambiguous and too broad to address its specificity. He said that there is no provision of the constitution that Touray has sought to invoke. He explained that the state did not know what type of immunity or category of offences Touray was claiming immunity for.

Interjecting, the presiding judge elucidated that Yankuba Touray has a right to remain silent and not enter a plea if he so wishes and that the onus lies on the prosecution to prove its case as issues raised were not preliminary objections.

But in his reply, the attorney general and minister of justice countered that Yankuba Touray cannot arrogate to himself the power to determine immunity and that it was not for him to hold his defense. He referred the court to section 127 of the constitution or referral of the matter to the Supreme Court for interpretation.

He disclosed that if the high court deemed to proceed with the matter despite the challenge to its jurisdiction posed by the issue of constitutional immunity, the prosecution wishes to seek for an adjournment because it was in the process of amending the indictment to add at least ten additional counts of murder and other serious offenses. Tambadou explained that this would be needed to allow Touray prepare his defense consistent with his right to a fair trial. He therefore asked the court to adjourn the case until after the vacation.

But Abdoulie Sisokho, one of Touray’s lawyers, insisted that the matter should in fact be adjourned to next week for daily-basis trial as the proposed amendment was not yet before the court. He also argued that there was nothing before the court to warrant any referral of the matter to the Supreme Court.

He consequently sought for bail to be granted to Touray arguing that the status quo has changed in relations to murder and treason, querying why the matter should be adjourned for even 15 minutes. He said the Slogan New Gambia should start with Yankuba Touray’s case.

After some arguments, the presiding judge adjourned the case to 15 July for ruling on the submissions.

Pope Francis said prayers on Sunday for victims of the bombing of a migrant center in Libya last week and called for concerted action to create extensive humanitarian corridors to prevent similar tragedies.

An air strike hit a detention center housing mainly African migrants in Tripoli last Tuesday, killing dozens of people including Gambians.

Senegalese media outlet IGFM said more than 100 migrants were killed and more than 200 others wounded during the air raid. The air raid targeted a migrant camp in Tajoura in the eastern suburbs of Tripoli.

Among the victims are Senegalese, Guineans, Gambians and Eritreans, Boubacar Séye the president of Horizon Sans Frontières (Horizon Without Borders) told IGFM.

On Sunday, the Popein his weekly Angelus in Rome said “the international community cannot put up with such grave acts.”

Pope Francis also called for prayers for those caught up in recent attacks in Afghanistan, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.