The separate charges against former Information Minister Dr Amadou Scattred Janneh and Sedia Bayo, a Gambian based in Paris (France), at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, were recently dropped, before Magistrate Abdoulie Fatty, for lack of diligent prosecution.
Dr Amadou Scattred Janneh was charged in absentia with treason, whilst Sedia Bayo was also charged in absentia with assault causing actual bodily harm.
Dr Amadou Scattered Janneh was alleged to have in the month of November 2012, distributed a T-shirt bearing “President Yahya Jammeh must go” “waato seta” within Senegal and Gambia’s borders and diverse places with intent to usurp the executive powers of the state and thereby committed an offence.
Sedia Bayo, who is a French citizen of Gambian decent, was accused of assaulting a Gambian business tycoon, Amadou Samba.
Bayo was charged with two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm and assault causing grievous bodily harm.
According to his bill of indictment, Mr Bayo, in November 2014, in Banjul and diverse places, unlawfully assaulted one Amadou Samba, by beating him all over his body, causing him actual bodily harm, and thereby committed an offence.
Count two stated that the said Bayo in the same month and year in Banjul and diverse places ‘grievously’ assaulted Amadou Samba by beating him all over his body causing him grievous bodily harm, and thereby committed an offence.
State prosecutors told the court that both cases were for mention, since the accused persons were not within the jurisdiction.
The prosecution applied for an arrest warrant for the accused persons, which was granted.
Both cases were then adjourned pending the accused person’s apprehension and their being brought before the court to face trial.
However, since the accused persons are yet to be arrested, the court dropped both cases for lack of diligent prosecution.
Mr Bayo, who is in France, is a French citizen of Gambian decent, whose parents migrated to France, where he was born. He is said to be a politician and has been shuttling between France and Senegal.
Dr Amadou Scattered Janneh, who is also in the US, once served as a minister of Information in the second republic.
