Lawyer
Edward A. Gomez yesterday informed the High Court presided over by Justice
Kumba Sillah-Camara that he was not opposing the state in appointing special
prosecutors in prosecuting the nine former NIA officials.
Lawyer
E.A. Gomez, the defence counsel for the 2nd accused person, Louise Leese
Richard Gomez, made the remark when the court was being briefed about the
situation report of the motions filed before the court.
It
would be recalled that on the last court sitting, lawyer Antouman A.B. Gaye and
five others announced their representation for the state, adding that they had
a fiat (authority) from the state to represent the state in the criminal trial
involving the NIA 9.
It
was that juncture that Lawyer C.E. Mene and Moses B.J Richards, defence counsel
for the 1st and 3rd accused persons, raised objection to their representation
for the state as prosecutors.
They
were then ordered by the presiding judge to file their briefs accordingly.
During
yesterday sittings, lawyer C.E. Mene informed the court that he was served with
the state prosecutors briefs some minutes before the court started sitting.
Mr
Mene said he has not got the chance to peruse the affidavit in opposition filed
by the state and that he need to reply.
For
his part, the lead state prosecutors, Antouman Gaye, informed the court that they
were served with a 53-paragraph affidavit by the defence.
At
this junction, lawyer Uzoma Achigbue, counsel for the 6th accused, suggested
that the court could go ahead with the trial, whilst the issue of the
opposition to the representation of lawyer Gaye and Co be treated separately.
At
this point, lawyer Edward A Gomez, informed the court that he was not opposed
to the representation of lawyer Gaye and others as state prosecutors.
Lawyer
D. Dago for the 9th accused, Lamin Lang Sanyang, also informed the court that
he was not opposed to the representation of Gaye and Co as state prosecutors.
The
matter was then adjourned until 12 June 2017, for adoption of briefs on the
issue of defence opposition to the state prosecutors.
The
accused persons are Yankuba Badjie, former director general of NIA; Loiuse
Leese Richards Gomez, Saihou Omar Jeng, Babucar Sallah, Yusupha Jammeh, Haruna
Susso, Tamba Mansary, Lamin Darboe and Lamin Lang Sanyang.
They
are being tried on multiple offences of conspiracy to murder, murder, assaults
causing actual bodily harm, forgery making false documents among others.
The
State had earlier on called two witnesses who were cross-examined by the
defence before the Attorney General and Minister of Justice appointed state
prosecutors to take over the case.
