By Mamadou Dem Mr. Emedeme Solomon Uche, a Nigerian national, was yesterday, 17th August, 2015 dragged to court on false information charges in relation to a book he authored with the title “Why the 22nd July was necessary”. Appearing before Magistrate Fatou Darboe of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, Mr. Uche is facing charges ranging from “Giving False Information to a public officer’, ‘Making a false document’ and ‘Attempt to commit a misdemeanor’. The accused however pleaded not guilty as charged and was consequently granted bail on the first day he appeared in court but is yet to fulfill the bail condition. It is alleged that sometime in the year 2015 at Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, the accused committed an offence in that he informed the President that his book titled “Why the July 22nd was necessary” was authenticated and reviewed by Foday Baldeh and other academic staff affiliated with the University of The Gambia which statement he knew and believed to be false in order to induced the president to finance the publication and launch of the said book. The prosecution further alleges on count two that Mr. Uche, sometime in 2015 in Banjul and within the jurisdiction of the court, committed an offence when he wrote a letter addressed to the President and introduced into the said letter the logo and trade mark of Mr. Foday Baldeh’s business without authority whilst it was being drawn up which if it had been authorised would have altered the effect of the document. According to count three, Mr. Uche sometime in 2015 in Banjul and within the jurisdiction of this court committed an offence in that he attempted to obtain money by false pretense when he fraudulently informed the President that his book titled “Why the 22nd July was necessary” was authenticated and reviewed by Foday Baldeh and other academic staff affiliated with the University of the Gambia. The accused is yet to secure a legal representation and is currently in remanded at the state central prison at Mile II as he could not fulfill the bail condition availed to him by the court. Prior to the mentioning of the case and plea taken by the accused, the application to substitute the charge sheet by M. Singhatey was granted by the court. The case resumes on the 26th August 2015 for hearing. ]]>
