Judgement day for Femi Peters' appeal

(Thursday, 5th August 2010 issue)
Justice Emmanuel Amadi of the high court in Banjul is expected to deliver judgment today in the appeal case filed by Femi Peters, ex-Campaign Manger of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP).

Mr. Peters, who is now the Administrative Secretary for External Affairs of the UDP, is challenging his one-year custodial sentence imposed on him by the Kanifing Magistrates' Court on 1st April 2010.

He was imprisoned for holding a political rally and using a loudspeaker in public without a permit from the Inspector General of Police.

Justice Amadi, readers would recall had set today as the day he would deliver judgment in the appeal case, following the adoption of written briefs, filed by both the appellant's counsel and state respondent.

Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, the counsel for the appellant in some of his grounds of appeal regards the lower court's decision as harsh, and not in conformity with the law regarding procession and the Public Order Act.

He had argued that the high court disregards the Kanifing Magistrates Court's decision, and discharged the appellant, as he was wrongly convicted.

It would be further recalled that Femi Peters was arrested on 25th October 2009, and first arraigned before the Banjul Magistrates' Court where his counsel argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to trial the case.

Subsequently, the case was transferred to the Kanifing Magistrates' Court, where Mr. Peters was convicted and sentenced to one year in prison.