Lawyer
Ousainou Darboe and 18 other appellants were yesterday given a heroic welcome
in Banjul by supporters of the coalition party, who won the recently-concluded
presidential election.
As
early as 8.00 a.m., the courtroom was filled with party supporters, with others
sitting at the premises of the high court complex in Banjul.
At
about 9.50 am, Fanta Darboe and Junkuna Suso entered the courtroom and they
were cheered by people, followed by others. Finally, Darboe entered which was
characterised by singing and cheering.
With
some calling him “Gambian Mandela,” and others called him “Nyancho, you have
cut the chain of slavery”, he was immediately surrounded by people who
expressed happiness and joy at his presence.
The
people and the lawyers took turns to embrace and greet him, and one of the
electrifying moments was when his lead counsel, lawyer Antouman Gaye, met and
embraced him. With both of them in a tearful mood, they could not speak, but
gazed at each other for more than five minutes.
Meanwhile,
the people chanted “Gambian Mandela, “you have cut the chain of slavery.”
Moments
later, the panel of judges comprising Justice A.O. Adegoke, the president of
The Gambia Court of Appeal, Justice Awa Bah and Justice Edrissa Mb’ai, as
members, stepped into the court and the day’s proceedings began.
Immediately
after the court delivered its ruling, the people sang the national anthem and
upon the completion of the national anthem, Ousainou Darboe and his co
appellants walked out of the courtroom and were received by thousands of supporters
waiting outside the court premises, as others waited to catch a glimpse of
their party leaders.