Did The Courts, Jammeh Or Barrow Free The UDP Leader And Those Incarcerated With Him?

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The circumstances that lead people to prison may be political or criminal. When people are incarcerated for political reasons they become political prisoners. The law and the courts however do not recognise political standing when it comes to legal issues.  Hence the question posed is about facts that should be taken note of in our history books. It is not designed to determine who is right and who is wrong. What then is the fact?

The answer is simple.

Mr Darboe and others were released on bail after the victory. When President Barrow took over he decided to exercise his prerogative of mercy to pardon them as indicated in the following Gazette.

The Gambia Gazette

Published by Authority

No. 2                        Banjul,            31st JANUARY 2017         Vol. 134  N. No 4/2017.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF GAZETTE SUPPLEMENT

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS BY Section 82(1) (a) of the 1997 of the Republic of The Gambia, the President may exercise his Prerogative of Mercy in respect of any person convicted of any offence.

AND WHEREAS His Excellency the President considers the circumstances of the convicted prisoners named in the schedule, as warranting the exercise of his Prerogative of Mercy.

NOW, THEREFORE, I ADAMA BARROW, the President of The Republic of The Gambia, in exercise of the powers conferred in me by section 82(1) (a) of the Constitution of the Republic of the Gambia, do hereby grant pardon to the persons named in the schedule hereto.

DONE AT BANJUL THIS 30TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2017

ADAMA BARROW

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA

N. No. 5/ 2017.

SCHEDULE

  1. OUSAINOU DARBOE
  2. FEMI PETERS
  3. YAYA BAH
  4. FAKEBBA COLLEY
  5. MOMODOU FATTY
  6. SAMBA KINTEH
  7. NFAMARA KUYATEH
  8. LAMIN NJIE
  9. MOMODOU L.K. SANNEH
  10. LAMIN SONKO
  11. LASANA BEYAI
  12. ALAGIE FATTY
  13. FATOUMATA JAWARA
  14. KAFU BAYO
  15. MODOU NGUM
  16. EBRIMA JABANG
  17. KEMESSENG JAMMEH
  18. LAMIN JATTA
  19. BABUCARR CAMARA
  20. ISMALILA CEESAY
  21. DODOU CEESAY
  22. MAMUDU MANNEH
  23. FANTA DARBOE
  24. JUGUNA SUSSO
  25. YAYA JAMMEH
  26. MODOU TOURAY
  27. LAMIN MARONG
  28. NOGOI NJIE
  29. FATOU CAMARA
  30. SAMBOU FATTY
  31. MALANG FATTY
  32. AMADOU SANNEH
  33. N. N. 6/2017.
  34. LIEUTENANT COLONEL SARJO JARJU (G/52 11)
  35. ABDOULIE JOBE (G/5163)
  36. CAPTAIN BUBA K. BOJANG (G/5296)
  37. LIEUTENTANT AMADOU SOWE (G/5366)
  38. LIEUTENTANT BUBA SANNEH (G/5366)
  39. 84 GNA/16157 PRIVATE NJIE MODOU
  40. SEEDY JAITEH