State
prosecutors yesterday filed a fresh two-count charge of abuse of office and
neglect of official duty against the former Director General of the Gambia
Immigration Department, Buba Sagnia, at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court before
Principal Magistrate Hilary Abeke.
He denied the charge, and was subsequently granted court bail of D5 million with a Gambian surety who must have landed property within the Greater Banjul Area.
The surety should also deposit his or her identification card with the registrar of the court for reference.
Ex-Director General, Buba Sagnia alias “Zil” was alleged in count one to have on 28 October 2013, at the immigration headquarters in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, whilst being employed as the Director General of the Gambia Immigration Department, acted in excess of the powers of his office and issued entry clearance to Ali Chahin, a Syrian national, and Hussein Abs, a Lebanese national, without forwarding the same to the National Intelligence Agency office for security screening, andthereby committed an offence.
Sagnia was further alleged in count two that in October 2013, at the immigration headquarters in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, while employed as the Director General of the Immigration Department, issued entry clearance to Ali Chahin, a Syrian national, and Hussein Abs, a Lebanese national, without forwarding the same to the National Intelligence Agency office for further security screening, and thereby committed an offence.
The case was adjourned to 7 January 2014.
Meanwhile, the accused person fainted in court immediately after the charge sheet was read to him.
The trial magistrate then adjourned the case, and ordered the accused person to be taken to the hospital for medical attention.
