Gambian Court To Hear Bail Plea Of Remanded Opposition Members

(JollofNews) – A group of lawyers defending an opposition leader and his supporters who were arrested last week for taking part in an  ‘unauthorised’ protest against the regime of President Yahya Jammeh will today be in the high court in Banjul to seek for their release on bail.

United Democratic Party leader, Ousainou Darboe and 18 of his supporters namely; Femi Peters, Lamin Dibba, Kemesseng Jammeh, Lamin Jatta, Yaya Bah, Babucarr Camara, Fakebba Colley, Ismaila Ceesay, Momodou Fatty, Dodou Ceesay, Samba Ceesay, Mamud Kinteh, Mfamara Kuyateh, Fanta Darboe, Lamin Njie, Juguna Suso, Momodou LK Sanneh, Yaya Jammeh were yesterday jointly charged with multiple counts of criminal offences.

Mr Darboe and his supporters who are currently on remand at the Mile Two Central Prisons on the outskirt of the country’s capital, Banjul, are accused of taking part in an unlawful assembly, riot, incitement of violence, riotously interfering

with traffic, holding a procession without a license and disobeying an order to disperse from an unlawful procession.

They pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In court today, the team of lawyers headed by veteran barrister, Antouman AB Gaye, are expected to plea with the court to grant the accused persons bail as they are charged with offences that are bailable in Gambian law.

They are also expected to argue that the accused are held incommunicado since their arrest on Thursday and Saturday and it would be a breach of their rights to continue to keep them in detention.

The lawyers will assure the court that the accused persons are all responsible people and decent Gambians and they would not interfere with ongoing police investigations or flee from the court’s jurisdiction if granted bail.

The state is expected to oppose the bail application.