By Louise Jobe
A long-running land dispute between the communities of Niorro Jarrol and Jarrol in Foni Jarrol suffered yet another delay on Tuesday when the case failed to proceed at the Brikama Magistrate’s Court, extending its inactivity to over a year.
The case, now assigned to Magistrate Dem, was expected to move forward after months of stagnation. However, when the matter was called, Police Prosecutor M. Fadera, representing the Inspector General of Police, applied for an adjournment, citing the absence of a key witness. The application was not contested by the three accused persons from Niorro Jarrol, all of whom were present in court.
Addressing the court, one of the accused, Mr. Bala Jobe, expressed deep frustration over the prolonged legal process. “We are farmers. Last year, we could not access our farmland because of this case,” he said. “It has been extremely difficult. We struggled to feed our families and pay school fees for our children.”
Another accused, Mr. Abdoulie Jobe, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the urgency of the matter as the rainy season approaches. “People are preparing their lands. We also want to clear our farms and get ready for cultivation,” he told the court.
In granting the prosecution’s request for adjournment, Magistrate Dem acknowledged the hardship expressed but noted that the matter before the court pertained specifically to an alleged failure by the accused to respond to a summons from the area chief. “This case is not about whether you should farm or not,” the magistrate said. “There is no injunction before me preventing you from accessing your lands. What is before me is a complaint that the chief called you to his residence for a discussion, and you allegedly refused to respond.”
The court adjourned the case to June 11 to allow the police prosecutor time to produce the necessary witness. For the residents of Niorro Jarrol, the delay prolongs not just a legal battle, but the uncertainty over access to land that remains vital to their livelihood.
