By Rohey Jadama
The High Court in Banjul, presided over by Justice Simeon A. Abi, has
yesterday, April 8, 2015 issued arrest warrants for Cherno Njie and eight others who were all charged with multiple counts of treason, concealment of treason and offences relating to mutiny and aiding
abetting mutiny.The state was represented by S.H. Barkum, the Director of public
prosecution (DPP).
The nine accused persons are Cherno Njie, Mustapha Faal, Alh. Saidy
Barrow, Papa Faal, Baboucarr Bai Lowe, Musa Sarr, Landing Sonko, Lamin
Njie and Aisha Jallow.
In his ruling, the trial judge said in view of the application of the
learned counsel, order is hereby made and directed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Interpol and any other relevant security
or personnel to arrest the accused persons wherever they may be and produce them before the court and answer to the charges against them.
“This order shall serve as a warrant for any person who may come in
contact with any of the accused persons and hand over to the court or
the authority for prosecution,” ruled the judge.
The case was adjourned to 13th May for mention.
Count one is Treason which states that Cherno Njie, Mustapha Faal,
Alh. Saidy Barrow, Papa Faal, Baboucarr Bai Lowe,Musa Sarr, Landing
Sanko, Lamin Njie, Aisha Jallow and others on or about the 30th of
December 2014 at Banjul and other places in The Republic of The Gambia
and within the jurisdiction of Court, prepared or endeavoured to
overthrow the democratically elected Government of the Republic of
The Gambia by unlawful means to wit: coup d’etat and thereby committed
an offence.
Count two Treason, states Cherno Njie, Mustapha Faal, Alh. Saidy
Barrow, Papa Faal, Baboucarr Bai Lowe, Musa Sarr, Landing Sonko, Lamin
Njie, Aisha Jallow and others on or about the 30th of December 2014 at
Banjul and other places in The Republic of The Gambia and elsewhere,
conspired together to overthrow the democratically elected Government
of the Republic of The Gambia by unlawful means to wit coup d’etat and
thereby committed an offence.
Count three Treason, states Cherno Njie, Mustapha Faal, Alh. Saidy
Barrow, Papa Faal, Baboucarr Bai Lowe, Musa Sarr, Landing Sanko, Lamin
Njie, Aisha Jallow and others at large, on or about the 30th of
December 2014 at Banjul and other places in The Republic of The Gambia
and within the jurisdiction of Court, assisted Major Lamin Sanneh
(deceased) and others to invade the Republic of The Gambia with an
armed forces and subjected the republic of The Gambia to an attack
with intent to overthrow the democratically elected Government of the
Republic of The Gambia by unlawful means to wit: coup d’etat and
thereby committed an offence.
Count four is Concealment of Treason states that Lamin Njie, on
or about the 30th of December 2014 at Banjul and other places in The
Republic of The Gambia and elsewhere, knowing that former Major Lamin
Sanneh (deceased) and others intended to commit treason failed to give
information within all reasonable dispatch to a minister, magistrate,
a police officer or a member of the Armed Forces and thereby committed
an offence.
Count five is Concealment of Treason which states that Lamin Njie on
or about the 30th of December 2014 at Banjul and other places in The
Republic of The Gambia and abroad, knowing that former Major Lamin
Sanneh (deceased) and others intended to commit treason failed to use
reasonable endeavour to prevent the commission of the offence and
thereby committed an offence.
Count six is Offences relating to mutiny which states that Cherno
Njie, Mustapha Faal, Alh. Saidy Barrow, Papa Faal, Baboucarr Bai Lowe,
Musa Sarr, Landing Sanko, Lamin Njie, Aisha Jallow and others, on or
about the 30th of December 2014 at Banjul and other places in The
Republic of The Gambia and elsewhere, conspired with former Major
Lamin Sanneh and others at large to overthrow the lawful authority in
The Gambia Armed Forces, to wit; the President and the Commander in
Chief of The Gambia Armed Forces by coup d’etat and thereby committed
an offence.
Count Seven is Mutiny which states that Cherno Njie, Mustapha Faal,
Alh. Saidy Barrow, Papa Faal, Baboucarr Bai Lowe, Musa Sarr, Landing
Sanko, Lamin Njie, Aisha Jallow and others on or about the 30th of
December 2014 at Banjul and other places in The Republic of The Gambia
endeavoured to overthrow the lawful authority in The Gambia Armed
Forces, to wit; the President and the Commander in Chief of The Gambia
Armed Forces by coup d’etat and thereby committed an offence.
Finally, Count Eight is aiding and abetting Mutiny which states that Lamin
Njie on or about the 30th of December 2014 at Banjul and other places
in The Republic of The Gambia being aware that Capt. Lamin Sanneh
(deceased) and others were preparing to overthrow the lawful authority
in The Gambia Armed Forces, to wit; the President and the Commander in
Chief of The Gambia Armed Forces by coup d’etat improperly held
communication with them and thereby committed an offence.
]]>
