State to file address in Njogu Bah ‘abuse of office’ trial

The state counsel, B. Drammeh, yesterday announced that the state would file their address in the trial of former secretary general and presidential affairs minister Dr Njogu Bah, at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court before principal Magistrate MS Jallow.

The development came after the defence counsel, LK Mboge, announced the closure of the defence’s case.

When the case was called, defence counsel LK Mboge told the court the defence was announcing the closure of their case, adding that his client was not calling any witnesses and would rely on the evidence before the court.

The state counsel, B. Drammeh, then said that since the defence counsel had closed their case and the accused person was not calling any witnesses, by virtue of section 162 of CPC in support of their case, they would need 14 working days to file their brief.

The court granted the state’s request, and asked the defence counsel to file within 7 days, after the state filed their address.

The case was adjourned to 22 June for adoption of briefs and replies on points of law.

Readers would recall that the charge sheet presented in court stated that Dr Njogu Bah, sometime in June 2013 at the State House in Banjul, abused the authority of his office as Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service by interfering with the recommendation and posting of Ms Jainaba Jobarteh to The Gambia’s permanent mission at the United Nations in New York without following the proper procedure of nomination, and thereby committed an offence.