Gambian Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Cherno Njie, 8 others

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By Rohey Jadama The High Court in Banjul, presided over by Justice Simeon A. Abi, hasCherno M. NjiePapa Faal 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 theBai  LoweAlagie Barrow 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.  ]]>