Adoption of briefs in former NIA DG case adjourned

Justice Kumba Sillah-Camara of the High Court in Banjul on Monday adjourned the criminal matter involving Yankuba Badjie, the former Director General of the defunct National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and others for adoption of briefs.

It would be recalled that Yankuba Badjie and eight others are being tried for multiple offences including the alleged murder of Solo Sandeng, UDP political activist in April 2016.

The prosecution, which was led by the DDPP, M.B. Abubacarr, had called two prosecution witnesses and was cross-examined by the defence.

Whilst the Attorney General and Minister of Justice appointed six private legal practitioners as prosecutors in the criminal matter, the defence, specifically of Yankuba Badjie, objected to the representation of the team.

The team is lead by veteran lawyer, Antouman A.B. Gaye, Rachel Mendy, Lamin S. Camara, Yassin Senghore and Combeh Gaye.

During Monday’s sitting, lawyer C. E Mene, the lead defence counsel for Yankuba Badjie informed the court that he has been served with the respondents briefs.

Lawyer A.A.B Gaye told the court that the process server went to Lawyer Mene’s Chambers on Friday 28 July 2017 but met his office closed.

When the same process server proceeded to lawyer Chime chambers and wanted to serve the brief, the officials refused service thereby precipitating serving lawyer Mene on Monday morning.

Lawyer A.A.B. Gaye informed the court that some members of the team would not be available during the summer vacation, noting that lawyer R. Y. Mendy has already left the jurisdiction for the vacation and lawyer Y. Senghore was also leaving on Wednesday 2 August for the summer vacation.

He said some other members of the team may be going for the summer vacation.

The presiding judge then stood down the matter for ten minutes to enable both sides reach a concession as to the court sitting during the early week of the vacation.

She then adjourned the matter until 3 August 2017, for adoption of briefs.

Meanwhile, lawyer C.E. Mene was given a mandatory 24 hours to file the applicant briefs in reply on points of law.