The trial
continued yesterday of the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice,
Lamin AMS Jobarteh, former Solicitor General and Legal Secretary Pa Harry
Jammeh, and former Secretary General and Head of Civil Service and Minister for
Presidential Affairs, Dr Njogu L Bah.
The three are facing trial on a three-count charge, which included conspiracy to carry out a lawful purpose by an unlawful means, giving false information to a public officer, and abuse of office, charges they denied.
Continuing his testimony before Justice Emmanuel Nkea of the Special Criminal Court in Banjul, detective Inspector Abdoulie Sowe replied in the affirmative when asked whether it was true that Chime and some lawyers went to the AG’s Chambers to see the then AG about the former Chief Justice Wowo.
“You told this court that one of the members of the Judicial Service Commission was present when they went to see the then AG,” counsel asked.
“I cannot remember,” replied the witness.
“I put it to you that the Judicial Service Commission members were not informed about the appointment of Wowo,” counsel said.
“We were informed by relevant sources that the Judicial Service Commission members were aware of his appointment,” he said.
Detective Sowe added that he did not contact all the members of the Judicial Service Commission about the appointment of Wowo.
They only investigated the case, and sent the case file to the relevant authorities, he said.
“We were told by the relevant authorities that the Judicial Service Commission dismissed the then Chief Justice, Joseph Wowo,” he added.
“I am not aware that the 2nd accused person had conspired with anybody, but he appeared before the panel,” Inspector Sowe stated.
He said they used a photocopying machine to photocopy papers so that the accused persons could write their statements.
The state then applied to tender the cautionary statement of the 3rd accused, which was objected to by his defence counsel, but the objection was overruled.
The 3rd accused person’s cautionary statement was admitted in evidence and marked as an exhibit.
The case continues today.
Lamin AMS Jobarteh, Pa Harry Jammeh, and Dr Njogu L. Bah, are accused on count one that, between January and February 2013, in the Banjul City Council, within the jurisdiction of the court, conspired among themselves to remove Justice Wowo, a sitting Judge of the Court of Appeal of The Gambia by an lawful means, to wit, orchestrating his arrest, detention and mock trial, and thereby committed an offence.
On Count two, Lamin AMS Jobarteh, Pa Harry Jammeh, and Dr Njogu L. Bah, are alleged that in January 2013, in the Banjul City Council, within the jurisdiction of the court, with intent to cause the termination of the service of Justice Wowo, fed John Belford (in his capacity as the Judicial Secretary of The Gambia) and the members of the Judicial Service Commission of The Gambia with information to the effect that his Excellency, the President of The Gambia had directed the termination of the appointment of Justice Wowo, knowing the information to be false and thereby committed an offence.
Lamin AMS Jobarteh, Pa Harry Jammeh, and Dr Njogu L. Bah, are further alleged on count three that between January and February 2013, in the Banjul City Council, within the jurisdiction of the court, whilst in their offices as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of The Gambia, and Solicitor General of The Gambia, and Secretary General and Head of Civil Service of The Gambia, respectively, abused the authority of their respective offices, by arbitrarily causing the arrest detention, and termination of the appointment of Justice Wowo, and thereby committed an offence.
