The Banjul High Court presided over by Justice Abi yesterday issued an arrest warrant for nine Gambians allegedly involved in the December 30 (2014) attack on the State House in Banjul.The accused persons are Cherno Njie, Mustapha Faal, Alhajie Saidy Barrow, Papa Faal, Baboucarr Bai Lowe, Musa Sarr, Landing Sonko, Lamin Njie and Aisha Jallow.They were indicted on eight counts ranging from treason, concealment of treason, offences related to mutiny, mutiny, and aiding and abetting mutiny.
When the case was called, DPP SH Barkhum applied for an arrest warrant to be issued by the court for the accused to appear in court.
In his ruling, the trial judge said in view of the application made by the DPP, the order is hereby made directing the IGP, Interpol and any other relevant authorities or personnel to arrest the accused persons or any of them wherever they may be and produce them before the court to answer charges against them.
He said the order should be served as a warrant for any person who may come in contact with any of the accused persons to arrest them and hand them over to the court or authorities for prosecution.
The case was adjourned to 13 May 2015.
According to the indictment filed in court in count one, the accused persons Cherno Njie, Mustapha Faal, Alhajie Saidy Barrow, Papa Faal, Baboucarr Bai Lowe, Musa Sarr, Landing Sonko, Lamin Njie and Aisha Jallow and others, on 30 December 2014, at Banjul and other places in The Gambia and within the jurisdiction of the court, prepared or endeavoured to overthrow the democratically-elected Government of The Gambia by unlawful means to wit coup d’ etat and thereby committed an offence.
Count two stated that the accused persons and others, on the same date and place, conspired together to overthrow the democratically-elected Government of The Gambia by unlawful means to wit coup d’etat and thereby committed an offence.
Count three stated that the accused persons and others at large on the same date and places, assisted Major Lamin Sanneh (deceased) and others to invade The Gambia with armed forces and subjected The Gambia to an attack with intent to overthrow the democratically-elected Government of The Gambia by unlawful means to wit coup d’ etat and thereby committed an offence.
Count four stated that Lamin Njie, on the same date and places, knowing that former Major Lamin Sanneh (deceased) and others intended to commit treason failed to give information within all reasonable dispatch to a minister, magistrate, a police officer or a member of the armed forces and thereby committed an offence.
Count five stated that Lamin Njie, on the same date and places and abroad, knowing that former Major Lamin Sanneh (deceased) and others intended to commit treason failed to use reasonable endeavour to prevent the commission of the offence and thereby committed an offence.
Count six stated that all the accused persons on the same date and places, conspired with former Major Lamin Sanneh and others at large to overthrow the lawful authority in the Gambia armed forces to wit the President and the commander-in-chief of the Gambia Armed Forces by coup d’etat and thereby committed an offence.
Count seven stated that the accused persons on the same date and places in The Gambia endeavoured to overthrow the lawful authority in the Gambia Armed Forces to wit the President and the Commander-in-chief of the Gambia Armed Forces by coup d’ etat and thereby committed an offence.
Count eight stated that Lamin Njie, on the same date and place being aware that Capt. Lamin Sanneh and others were preparing to overthrow the lawful authority in the Gambia armed forces to wit President and the Commander-in-chief of the Gambia Armed Forces by coup d’ etat improperly held communication with them and thereby committed an offence.
