D-Day for alleged Farafenni military camp attacker

Abdoulie Sonko, one of the alleged Farrafenni army camp attackers, is expected to know his fate when the high court in Banjul, presided over by Justice Emmanual Amadi, delivers its judgment today.

Sonko was charged by state prosecutors in 2003, and subsequently arraigned at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court. The case was later transferred to the high court, where the accused person faced three counts of treason and six counts of murder. 

He was alleged to have murdered Corporal Essa Keita, Private Ebrima Manneh, Staff Sergeant Lamin Badjie, Private Bakary Keita and Private Ebrima Bayo, along with Ballo Kanteh and others, during an armed attack on the Farafenni military camp, sometime in November 1996.

The accused, in one of his defence testimonies, told the court that he was arrested in 2003 at his home village of Nuimi Berending, and taken to the NIA headquarters in Banjul.

Sonko also told the court that he was a teacher in 1978, but later joined the Gambia Public Transport Corporation (GPTC) as a bus conductor.

Readers would recall that many judges have presided over the case, including Justice MA Paul, Justice MM Yemoa, Justice Tahir, Justice Moneyang, Justice Joseph Wowo and, finally, now Justice Emmanuel Amadi.