The Banjul Magistrates’ Court yesterday reviewed and imposed a new bail bond for former Secretary General and Head of Civil Service and Presidential Affairs Minister Dr Njogu L. Bah, former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Lamin AMS Jobarteh and former Solicitor General and Legal Secretary Pa Harry Jammeh.
The new bail bond of D2 million, now replaces the previous bail of D100,000 while all other conditions remained the same.
This was after the court transferred their case to the High Court, following the application made by the police prosecutor, Chief Inspector Badjie.
The three accused persons were arraigned on charges of abuse of office and two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.
During yesterday’s hearing of the case before senior Magistrate Lamin Mbai, the police prosecutor told the court that the prosecution was applying for the case to be transferred to the high court in Banjul, since the accused persons have similar charges to answer to at the high court.
In response, defence counsel L.K. Mboge told the court that the accused persons face the same charges in both the high court and lower court; therefore, he added, the two same charges could not stand in common law.
The proper thing to do was to withdraw the charges from the court, counsel Mboge added.
Defense counsel L.S. Camara and Ebrima Jah both made similar submissions.
Lawyer Lamin Camara also raised the concern that even though his client (the 2nd accused person Lamin Jobarteh) was granted bail, he was still held in detention.
Counsel added that since the accused persons were granted bail by the court, they have been reporting on bail regularly, without absenting even for a single day.
Counsel then asked the court to grant them bail.
Delivering his ruling, the trial magistrate said the court would review the bail conditions for the accused persons, and would now place a new bail bond of D2 million each, but all other conditions remained the same.
He further ordered that the case be transferred to the high court for trial.
Dr.Njogu L. Bah , Lamin AMS Jobarteh and Pa Harry Jammeh were accused on count one that some time in 2013, in the city of Banjul, acted in their capacities as former Secretary General and Head of Civil Services, Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Solicitor General respectively, terminated and sent Justice Joseph Wowo, the then acting Chief Justice of the Gambia out of the country and formed a taskforce to look into the activities of the Tax Commission initiated by the President , thereby committed an offence.
On count two, Dr Njogu L. Bah, Lamin AMS Jobarteh and Pa Harry Jammeh were alleged that some time in 2013, in the city of Banjul, conspired among themselves as former Secretary General and Head of Civil Service, Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Solicitor General respectively, and forcefully terminated Justice Wowo and sent him out of the country which decision was prejudice to the rights of Justice Wowo, thereby committed an office.
Dr. Njogu L. Bah, Lamin AMS Jobarteh and Pa Harry Jammeh were further accused on count three that some time in 2012, in the city of Banjul, conspired among themselves as former Secretary General and Head of Civil Service, Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Solicitor General respectively and formed a taskforce to look into the activities of the Tax Commission initiated by the President, thereby committed an offence.
