L
LequteMan
Guest
Emmanuel Nkea, the Gambian High Court judge on Friday in Banjul sentenced three former Gambian government officials to two years imprisonment.
They are Lamin Jobarteh, former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Harry Jammeh, former Solicitor-General and Legal Secretary, and Njogu Bah, former Secretary-General and head of the civil service and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
They were found guilty of conspiracy, giving false information and abuse of office.
The charges against the former government officials stemmed from allegations that they conspired to remove a Nigerian judge, Justice Joseph Wowo, then sitting president of The Gambia Court of Appeal.
The three were said to have orchestrated Wowo’s arrest and subsequent detention and trial.
The High Court judge said there was abundant evidence, both oral and documentary, from the accused persons themselves.
He said that they held a few meetings at the state house where the removal, arrest and prosecution of Justice Wowo was discussed and agreed.
Nkea said Wowo was not only removed from office as President of The Gambia Court of Appeal, but he was also arrested, detained, charged and prosecuted.
“Therefore, I am satisfied that the prosecution has proved its case with the certainty required by law on counts 1 and 3 and the accused persons are accordingly convicted as charged.
“I find it fit to sentence each of the accused persons to two years imprisonment on each count and the sentences must, however, run concurrently,’’ he said.
They are Lamin Jobarteh, former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Harry Jammeh, former Solicitor-General and Legal Secretary, and Njogu Bah, former Secretary-General and head of the civil service and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
They were found guilty of conspiracy, giving false information and abuse of office.
The charges against the former government officials stemmed from allegations that they conspired to remove a Nigerian judge, Justice Joseph Wowo, then sitting president of The Gambia Court of Appeal.
The three were said to have orchestrated Wowo’s arrest and subsequent detention and trial.
The High Court judge said there was abundant evidence, both oral and documentary, from the accused persons themselves.
He said that they held a few meetings at the state house where the removal, arrest and prosecution of Justice Wowo was discussed and agreed.
Nkea said Wowo was not only removed from office as President of The Gambia Court of Appeal, but he was also arrested, detained, charged and prosecuted.
“Therefore, I am satisfied that the prosecution has proved its case with the certainty required by law on counts 1 and 3 and the accused persons are accordingly convicted as charged.
“I find it fit to sentence each of the accused persons to two years imprisonment on each count and the sentences must, however, run concurrently,’’ he said.
