The troubles facing a former Chief Justice of The Gambia, and the former attorney general and minister of Justice, show no sign of letting up.
Joseph Wowo and Lamin Jobarteh respectively were yesterday arraigned before Justice Emmanuel Nkea of the Special Criminal Court in Banjul, where prosecutors slammed more charges against them.
The duo were arraigned on a thirteen-count charge, which included abuse of office, conspiracy to defeat justiceand interference with witnesses, offences relating to judicial proceedings, and giving false information to a public officer. They denied the charges.
After plea taking, the state counsel informed the court that they intended to withdraw the case before the lower court, where the two accused persons were earlier arraigned.
Justice Wowo then informed the court, among other things, about his state of health, stating that he was feeling very sick, and needed to see the doctor at the MRC; and also talked of bail.
The court granted them bail of D1million each with two Gambian sureties with landed property within the Greater Banjul Area.
The conditions added that the 1st accused Joseph Wowo should report to the Kairaba Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while the 2nd accused Lamin Jobarteh should report to the Old Yundum Police Station onMonday, Wednesday and Friday.
The conditions further stated that they should not go out after the hours from 11am to 5pm. The court also said Wowo should be taken to the MRC to see the doctor.
Hearing continues today.
Joseph Wowo was accused in count one, that in November 2012 at Old Yundum within the jurisdiction of the court, in his capacity as the President of the Gambia Court of Appeal, being employed in the public service in flagrant abuse of his office, directed Mr Alieu Barry (attorney for Bernd George Diedrich), to succumb to negotiations to a pending case before the Gambia Court of Appeal, which act was arbitrary and prejudicial to his rights of Judicial Redress, and thereby committed an offence.
In count two, it was alleged that Joseph Wowo, in November 2012 at Old Yundum within the jurisdiction of the court, in his capacity as the President of The Gambia Court of Appeal being employed in the Gambian public service and in purported discharge of his office and in breach of public trust bestowed on him by virtue of his office, unduly influenced Mr Alieu Barry (attorney for Bernd George Diedrich), to succumb to negotiations over a pending case before the Gambia Court of Appeal, which act was against a private person and detrimental to his rights of Judicial Redress, and thereby committed an offence.
Joseph Wowo and Lamin Jobarteh were accused in count three, that in November 2012 at Old Yundum within the jurisdiction of the court, in their capacity as the President of the Gambia Court of Appeal and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice respectively, with intent to obstruct, prevent, pervert or defeat the course of justice, conspired and coerced Mr Alieu Barry (attorney for Bernd George Diedrich), to succumb to negotiations over a pending case before The Gambia Court of Appeal, which act was an interference with the due execution of legal proceedings pending before The Gambia Court of Appeal, and thereby committed an offence.
In count four, it was alleged that Joseph Wowo and Lamin Jobarteh, in November 2012 at Old Yundum within the jurisdiction of the court in their capacity as the President of the Gambia Court of Appeal and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice respectively, with intent to defeat the course of justice, conspired and coerced while judicial proceedings were pending before The Gambia Court of Appeal; made assertions misrepresenting proceedings which was capable of prejudicing Mr Alieu Barry (attorney for Bernd George Diedrich), to succumb to negotiations in favour of Andre Sape Van Klaabergen, who was one of the parties to the proceedings, which act was an interference and deviation from the normal proceedings with the due execution of legal proceedings pending before The Gambia Court of Appeal, and thereby committed an offence.
Joseph Wowo was further accused in count five, that on 7 December 2012in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, in his capacity as the President of the Gambia Court of Appeal, being employed in the public service, in flagrant abuse of his office transferred the Principal Registrar of the Gambia High Court, Mrs. Mariama Ceesay-Mboob, to the Brikama High Court for having refused his directive to delete paragraph two of her letter dated 7 December 2012, for being in conflict with his letter to the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency dated 3 December 2012, against Mrs. Amie Bensouda, and thereby committed an offence.
In count six, it was alleged that Joseph Wowo, on 3 December 2012 in the city of Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, wrote a letter dated 3 December 2012, to the NIA informing them that the Registrar of the High Court, Mrs. Mariama Ceesay, informed him that Mrs. Amie Bensouda requested for a record which she Mariama Ceesay refused, and referred her to the Sheriff of The High Court, Mr. Buba Jawo, information he knew and believed to be false.
In count seven, it was alleged that Joseph Wowo, on 3 December 2012 in the city of Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, wrote a letter dated 3 December 2012 to the NIA, informing them that the staff of the High Court registry informed him that Mrs. Amie Bensouda said that they should compile all cases and not only land cases, information he knew and believed to be false.
It was further alleged in count eight that Joseph Wowo, on 3 December 2012 in the city of Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, wrote a letter dated 3 December 2012 to the NIA, informing them that Mrs Amie Bensouda’s chambers lied to him when she told him that the information they wanted was only relating to land cases, information he knew or believed to be false.
In count nine, it was stated that Joseph Wowo, on 3 December 2012 in the city of Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, wrote a letter dated 3 December 2012 to the NIA, informing them that the conduct of Mrs Amie Bensouda intended to undermine the administration of the Gambian Judiciary, information he knew or believed to be false.
Joseph Wowo, it was alleged in count ten that, on 3 December 2012 in the city of Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, wrote a letter dated 3 December 2012 to the NIA, informing them that Mrs Amie Bensouda conducted her activities in a clandestine manner, information he knew or believed to be false.
In count eleven, Joseph Wowo was again accused, that on 3 December 2012 in the city of Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, wrote a letter dated 3 December 2012 to the NIA, informing them that after his letter of complaint about the activities of Mrs Amie Bensouda, her chambers later sent a letter requesting for the collection of data on the resolution of land disputes on the next day, information he knew or believed to be false.
Joseph Wowo, it was alleged in count twelve, that on 3 December 2012 in the city of Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, wrote a letter dated 3 December 2012 to the NIA, informing them that the letter from Amie Bensouda & Co was received by him on 6 December 2012, information he knew or believed to be false.
In count thirteen, Joseph Wowo was also accused, that on 19 December 2012 in the city of Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, without lawful authority assumed the office and functions of the Acting-Chief Justice of the Republic of The Gambia, which functions and acts are of a public nature which could only have been done by persons authorised by law to do so, and thereby committed an offence.
