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Defence absence hinders Njogu Bah trial

Mar 13, 2015, 12:36 PM | Article By: Bakary Samateh

The absence of defence counsel Lamin Mboge yesterday hindered the trial of Njogu Bah, former secretary general, accused of abuse of office, before Principal Magistrate Dawda Jallow of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.

Prior to the adjournment of the matter until 23 March 2015, Dr Bah informed the court that he was informed that his lawyer was not feeling well.

He therefore asked the court for an adjournment.

State Counsel Mamour Jobe did not object to the application, but told the court the counsel for the accused person was aware of the date and should have communicated to them or through the court.

Principal Magistrate Dawda Jallow then said that counsel LK Mboge was not feeling well.

He said he waited for the matter to proceed, but given that the defence was absent, he would therefore give him the benefit of the doubt for his absence.

It would be recalled that Dr Bah is standing trial on a single count of “abuse of office”.

Prosecutors alleged that Dr Bah sometimes in January 2013, at State House in Banjul, abused the authority of his office as Secretary General and Head of Civil Service by interfering with the recommendation and posting of Ms Jainaba Jobarteh to The Gambia’s permanent mission at the United Nations in New York, without following the proper procedure of nomination, and thereby committed an offence.