The economic crime case involving former Works
Minister Ousman Badjie has reached its climax, before Justice E.O. Dada at the
Banjul High.
The case, heard yesterday, was adjourned for
adoption of written addresses.
When the case was called, state counsel A.M. Yusuf
told the court that the matter was slated for adoption of briefs.
However, he told the court he thought the defence
should be the first to file so he could reply, but then he later found out from
the defence that he had to file first.
L.S. Camara said he too could not file his address
because he did not receive anything from the prosecution.
He said that since they took 14 days each to file
their address, and they did not and so much time had been wasted, he was
suggesting that they could now go for a short date and take seven days each to
file their addresses.
State counsel A.M. Yusuf then enquired if the court
could order for the defence to file first.
The trial judge then told counsel Yusuf that after
the witness was discharged and the defence did say that was all for their case,
he (Yusuf) stood up and said he needed 14 days to file his address.
The judge, in response, said her own understanding
of that was A.M. Yusuf was the first to file his address.
“My lord is correct and that is the law because we
did not call a witness and he (Yusuf) himself admitted that he would file
within 14 days. So if he wants to change that I will be surprised,” L.S. Camara
said.
The trial judge then told state counsel Yusuf that
DW2 was there to tender a file in court, and the witness was discharged without
being cross-examined by him (Yusuf) and, based on that, as they are guided by
the court’s records, the state should be the first to file.
The trial judge then ordered both parties to file
their briefs, and they were each given seven days to file their addresses.
The case was then adjourned until 20 July 2016, for
adoption of briefs.
