High Court to rule on Teranga FM MD bail application today

This would be the second ruling by the high court on Ceesay’s bail application, after he was refused bail by Justice Abi.

It would be recalled that Alagie Abdoulie Ceesay was first indicted before Principal Magistrate Momodou S. Jallow of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on a single-count charge of seditious intention, which he denied.

Defence counsel Combeh Gaye-Coker then applied for bail, but the accused was refused bail by the said magistrate on the grounds that the prosecution was yet to conclude its investigation.

The defence counsel again applied for bail at the Banjul High Court before Justice Abi, who also refused the accused bail on the grounds that if such a repetition was allowed to occur, it could not be speculated as regards what manner of effect it would have on the security of the nation.

The accused was subsequently indicted on a seven-count charge of which six are seditious and one is publishing false news, which he also denied.

Justice Abi also gave the prosecution 7 days to arraign the accused, failure to do which the accused could re-apply for bail.

However, before the 7 days elapsed, the accused was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Dan Azumi Balarabe.

Defence counsel again filed a bail application before Justice Balarabe, emphasizing that it is the constitutional right to liberty of the accused person that he be granted bail.

The DPP again opposed the bail application, saying the high court “lacks jurisdiction” to hear it.

The case was then adjourned for ruling, expected today, on the repeated application for bail.