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.
