Justice Kumba Sillah Camara of the Banjul High Court has adjourned the criminal trial of the former NIA Director General and others for adoption of briefs after the defense made applications against private lawyers representing the state.
The state was represented by the Prosecutor General Antouman Gaye, Lawyer Sheriff Tambadou, Lawyer Lamin S. Camara, Yasin Senghor and Kombeh Gaye among others.
Lawyer CE Mene, counsel for the first accused (Yankuba Badjie) was not in court but was represented by Lawyer Secka who told the court that he was given brief instructions. He said he was instructed to seek for an adjournment as the lawyer of the first accused person has traveled out of the jurisdiction. He added that he was going to start from where Mene stopped.
The Prosecutor General, Antouman Gaye said he cannot make any sense of what the defense lawyer stated because he made two statements, application for adjournment and a continuation of the case.
At this juncture, the trial judge told the lawyer whether he wants the court to wait for him because the court cannot wait for anyone, saying the matter was adjourned at the instance of the said counsel (Lawyer Mene). Moreover, the court does not even know when he will be back.
“This is not in the interest of justice, your clients are in the custody and you are delaying the case,” Justice Kumba Sillah Camara said.
The trial judge then questioned the position of the prosecution with regard to the pending application made by the defense. The Prosecutor General told the court that the case in hand is a criminal matter. He said they leave the matter in the legislative hands of the court.
Defense Lawyer Moses Richards urged the court to grant the adjournment applied by his colleague, saying steps are being taken to finalise their applications.
“What steps are being taken? We are kept in the dark. This is the second adjournment,” trial judge pointed out.
Lawyer Edu Gomez representing the former NIA Deputy Director General said the matter before the court is a high profile case that has captured the attention of everyone in the country and outside world.
“This will be a fragrant violations of the constitutional rights of my client,” Lawyer Edu Gomez submitted.
Lawyer Gomez referred the court to section 24 of the 1997 constitution. He said the lawyer of the first accused should properly informed the lawyer who was holding briefs for him. He calls for a speedy trial within a reasonable time.
Subsequently, the trial judge ordered for the defense to file their summons within 7 days. The matter was adjourned to July 18, 2017, for adoption of briefs.
