Fresh charges against former SG Njogu Bah and Co

State prosecutors yesterday filed fresh charges against 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, at the Special Criminal Court in Banjul before Justice Emmanuel Nkea.

The three-count indictment 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.

After plea taking, counsel for the accused persons raised the issue of bail and said they were applying for bail for their clients.

The state counsel then notified the court that they were withdrawing the case before the magistrate court.

Justice Nkea then stated that he shall admit the accused persons to bail on the same terms and conditions imposed on them by the lower court, because the charge was still the same.

He further ordered that the Principal Registrar of the High Court adopts the same conditions.

The matter continues today for hearing.

Lamin AMS Jobarteh, Pa Harr Jammeh, and Dr Njoguo L. Bah, were 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, were 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, were 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.