By Kemeseng Sanneh (KEXX)
The Supreme Court of the Gambia was on Monday unable to proceed with the United Democratic Party (UDP) case against six (6) advisers appointed by President Adama Barrow.
UDP and its members are challenging the appointment of Fatoumatta Jahampa Ceesay (foreign service), Ousman Rambo Jatta (foreign service), Dembo Bojang (political adviser), Dou Sanno (political adviser), Lamin Cham (political adviser), Hendry Gomez (political adviser), Lamin K. Saidy (political adviser) and Sulayman Camara (political adviser).
The party and its members want the Supreme Court to declare their appointments as unconstitutional since it contravenes section 166 and 170 of the 1997 Constitution. They also said their appointments contravene the General Orders.
Section 170 subsection one of the Constitution provides “A person holding an office in a public service shall not hold office in any political party,” and section 166 subsection 3 provides that “(3) For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared that an office in the public service includes the office of judge of a superior court, and of any other court that emoluments of which are payable out of any public fund of The Gambia, and the office of a principal representative of The Gambia abroad.”
When the case was called, the leader of the UDP legal team, Senior Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, informed the court that they needed time to properly guide their witnesses. There was no objection from Lawyers Ida Drammeh for the presidential advisers and Yakar H. Cox representing the Attorney General and the Public Service Commission.
This was when Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow passed an order to all the parties in the case to prepare their witnesses because he wants the court to deal with them in earnest and conclude.
“I am ever ready,” Senior Lawyer Ida Drammeh said.
The case will be coming today. Foroyaa will provide a detailed coverage of the case.
