Training On Sharia Law Underway

A three-month training course on different aspects of Islamic law, including family law, law of inheritance and succession, judicial review, Islamic law of property, sources of Islamic law, ethics and conduct and the 1997 constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, among other important areas of concern for Cadis, legal practitioners and others, is currently underway at the law court complex in Banjul.

The training, which is the first of its kind, according to judicial officials, brought together Cadis from different parts of the country, presided by his lordship Chief Justice of The Gambia, Emmauel A. Agim.

Addressing the participants, Chief Justice Agim informed the gathering that he recognised the challenges in the Cadi courts which, he said, had prompted them to organise such a training course.

CJ Agim, however, revealed that the constitution was endorsed by 95% of Gambians, at a referendum held in the country, adding that about 95% of the population of The Gambia are Muslims, thus the need to have effective and efficient Cadi court system in The Gambia.

He emphasised the need to have uniformity in the judicial system of the country, including the Cadi court.

Noting that the country's judicial system cannot afford to have different schools of thought in the dispensation of justice, he urged for the adoption of the Malick school of thought to be applied in all Cadi courts throughout The Gambia.

The judicial boss noted that the training is in line with the requirements provided in the constitution of The Gambia, stressing that the government of The Gambia has put in place mechanisms for the effective dispensation of justice in The Gambia.

Justice Agim urged the Cadis to develop and nurture the sprit of record keeping, which the CJ said, will serve as judicial precedence and a guide for generations yet unborn.

He finally thanked the President for implementing the training programme.

For his part, Haruna Jaiteh, the Judicial Secretary at the Office of Chief Justice, gave a brief historical overview of the training session, noting that the training would serve as a forum for the participants.

The training, the Judicial Secretary noted, is expected to impact on fair and speedy dispensation of justice in The Gambia, especially the Cadi courts.