By Yankuba Jallow
The special criminal division of the Banjul high court yesterday 22 September, 2016 presided over by Justice O. Ottaba, adjourned 
the case involving Mrs. Sira Wally Ndow, former Deputy Minister of Petroleum and nine others.
The accused persons namely Sira Wally Ndow, former deputy petroleum minister, Momodou O.S. Badjie, former Managing Director of Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Fafa Sanyang, former Petroleum Commissioner, Edrisa Mass Jobe, Muntaga Sallah, former Permanent Secretary Ministry of Petroleum, Momodou Taal, Seedy Kanyi, Noah Touray, former Cabinet Secretary, Louie Moses Mendy, former official at the president’s office, and Cherno Marena, former Solicitor General and Legal Secretary.
When the case was called, lawyers Ida Drammeh, Mrs. Mendy, S. Taal announced their representation for the 1st, 4th and 6th accused persons, Lawyer E. Sanyang appeared for the 2nd, 3rd, 7th and 9th accused persons, Lawyer Loubna Farage for the 5th and the 8th accused persons, lawyers S. Camara and A. Fatty for the 2nd, 7th and 9th accused persons and Lawyer Yassin Senghor for the 10th accused person whilst Hadi Saleh Bakhum, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) represented the state.
DPP Bakhum told the court that he received the case file from the Inspector General of Police and it is the duty of the high court to hold on the case for they are going on vacation.
Lawyer Drammeh argued that vacation is only applicable on civil matters and not for criminal matters.
The DPP still requested for the matter to be taken to Chief Justice to be signed.
Justice Ottaba on hearing the arguments from both parties adjourned the matter to 28th September at 13:00 for ruling on the matter.
