The duo was acquitted and discharged by Hon. Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the Special Criminal Division of the High Court on 30th March 2026 after more than two and a half years of standing trial for the murder of two Police Officers at the Sukuta Jabang Traffic Lights.
After the state informed the court of their intention to appeal the decision at the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Jaiteh then granted Ousainou and Amie Bojang bail pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
The Bojang siblings fulfilled the bail condition. However, immediately they were released, members of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) re-arrested them, took them to the Police Headquarters, and subsequently returned them to the Mile 2 Central Prison.
It was later revealed that the state filed an Ex Parte motion to stay the execution of Hon. Justice Jaiteh’s order of granting the duo bail.
This action by the authorities received widespread condemnation from the public and a protest by GALA on 31 March 2026.
While young people were clashing with protesters in Brufut, news emerged that the state had withdrawn the ex parte motion.
In less than an hour, the Gambia Police Force released a statement informing the public that Ousainou and Amie Bojang were released and calling for calm.
“The Gambia Police Force wishes to inform the public that Mr Ousainou Bojang and Ms Amie Bojang have been released from State custody with immediate effect,” the Police stated.
The Police further urged the public to remain calm and continue with their lawful activities.
In response to the police statement regarding the release of Ousainou and Amie Bojang, Madi Jobarteh, human rights defender and founder of Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ), said the Gambia Police Force has gone “rogue and become a pawn for corruption, abuse and selfish interest”, which is “concerning”.
“The IGP has no regard whatsoever for the law and the rights of citizens including his own officers. How can someone kill his own officers, and the Police fail to go after the real killers but willfully pick an innocent man and his sister and his family to subject them to such disgusting abuse for 2 years and 8 months,” he stated.
Jobarteh further stated: “After failing to prove their case, the court freed the man and his sister only for the IGP to trample upon the authority of the courts to further detain these people. On what basis? Does the IGP own this country? Does the IGP think that the courts should rule in his favour otherwise he will not accept a court ruling? Who is he?”
Ousainou and Amie Bojang receive a rousing welcome home
After their release from Mile 2 Central Prison for the second time, Ousainou and Amie Bojang received a rousing welcome from hundreds of protesters in their hometown of Brufut.
“Thank you - all of you. Thank you so much - all of you,” Ousainou Bojang told the crowd.
