The
criminal trial involving the state against Momodou Sabally, the former Director
General of the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), could not proceed
on Thursday before Justice E.O. Dada at the High Court in Banjul.
It
would be noted that Sabally is standing trial on eight counts of economic
crime, neglect of official duty, among others.
It
would be recalled that Sabally had refused to take his plea when he submitted
that the matter before the court had already been decided, when the state filed
a nolle prosecui.
At
the last court sitting on 13 December 2016, the presiding judge overruled
Sabally’s objection and ordered him to take his plea on the charges before the
court.
At
about 1:00pm on Thursday, Sabally was escorted from the National Intelligence
Agency headquarters by two plainclothes officers into the high court premises,
where they waited at the verandah of Justice E.O. Dada’s court.
Sabally
was met by friends, well-wishers and relatives, who have waited patiently for
him and, after about an hour, the clerk of Justice Dada came out and informed
the gathering that the matter had been adjourned until 9 January 2017.
Meanwhile,
there was neither any counsel from the Attorney General’s Chambers nor any
private legal practitioner seen around the courtroom.
