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Counsel urges court to declare detention of former protocol officer Sowe illegal

Jan 23, 2015, 10:13 AM | Article By: Halimatou Ceesay

Lawyer Sagarr Jahateh yesterday urged the Banjul High Court presided over by Justice Abi to declare illegal the detention of her client, ex-Protocol Officer Momodou Sowe, at the Mile 2 State Central Prisons for more than two years without being charged or brought before the court.

When the case was called, Counsel Jahateh informed the court that her client, who was detained for over two years, was conditionally released on Wednesday and had reunited with his family.

However, she said the release of her client was contradictory to what the motion called for, which was to release the applicant unconditionally.

She said Sowe was released on police bail, and had not yet been charged with any offence.

Counsel further adduced that the state should have been in court, as ordered by the court during the last sitting, but they failed to be present.

She added that she would give them another opportunity for them to appear, on the next adjournment date and if they failed to appear, she would prefer to continue with the motion.

She promised that they would pursue a dialogue with the state concerning the matter.

“We are urging the court to make a declaration that my client’s detention is illegal,” said counsel Sagarr Jahateh.

The matter was adjourned to 12 March 2015.