(JollofNews) – A Gambian lawyer who represented former President Yahya Jammeh in his ill-fated attempt to overturn the results of last December presidential election at the Supreme Court has rubbished reports that he was paid substantial amount of money for his services.
Edward Anthony Gomez said he his services for the former president were rendered in kindness and he has never received a single Dollar.
“I never asked for USD 400,000.00 and I was never given such amount not even a single Dollar. Not one Dalasi of D2, 800,000.00 reached us,” Mr Gomez told Mr Jammeh’s owned Daily Observer Newspaper.
He added: “It is possible that he paid it through an intermediary but that money never reached us. If people think that I made a fortune out of this case, nothing can be further away from the truth. I was in pursuit of my professional career. I also have to make this very clear that me representing the APRC and the ex-president was purely from a professional point of view.
“Ethically, a lawyer cannot refuse to represent a client because that client has committed the most heinous or the most gruesome offense or the client happens to be more popular, the lawyer cannot turn back and say look am sorry but I cannot represent you.”
Mr Gomez who admitted to have been under tremendous pressure and coercion while working on Mr Jammeh’s failed bid to block Adama Barrow from assuming the presidency said he has not regretted representing him in the courts.
He said Mr Jammeh was only exercising his constitutional right when he filed a legal challenge against the election results following the release of two different results by the Independent Electoral Commission.
He added that Mr Jammeh had doubted whether the result announced were accurate and reflect the true decision of the Gambian people.
“In my honest opinion as a legal practitioner, everybody has a right to go to court and ask for a fair hearing,” he said.
“It is for the courts to determine whether or not the elections were duly and properly conducted or whether the results as promulgated were accurate. This is the process that was on which need to file a petition. It is for the court to determine after careful consideration of all the evidences (documentary and oral) before it whether former president Jammeh’s complain has merit or not. It may be that the figures may not be accurate.”
Mr Gomez, can you make up your mind as to what your story actually is? First you said that you were coerced now you said you rendered your services in kindness but went on to say you did not receive a Butut of the D2.8million. You can’t keep changing your story and expect Gambians to trust you. If you render your services in kindness then neither former president Jammeh nor the APRC owes you a Butut. If you had an enforceable contract with either party or both then sue them to get what’s rightfully owed to you. You know where the court house is don’t you? In case you have amnesia, there are plenty of Gambians who will gladly drag you by the ear to where the court house is to file your law suit. But if your story is that you were coerced then tough luck because it will be very difficult for you to proof that in court. If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.
Seems to me I remember him stating previously that he had to represent Yahya in this deal because he was being paid a monthly retainer and that gave him no choice.
You Gambian people are lucky. Go forward for rooted democracy, development and the wellbeing of your people. You have to establish accommodating democracy even that bad ex- president supporter.This is your time use it wisely unless who knows the future.
I pray and wish to have prosperous Gambia see everyone equally
The most pressing thing The Gambia needs is money. The EU is helping, rejoin the Commonwealth and obtain more Aid from the Uk.
Completely overhaul your armed forces and Police so they become apolitical.
To be precise, he was paid D1.2 million.
Democratically who are the ones who have to pay this man? Government, Aprc or mr Jammeh ?? Im asking according to law!!!
#peace= this man has said some weeks ago that he was retained by APRC that was why he had to represent Jammeh. Now he is coming up with a different story. Anyway the answer to your question is APRC or Jammeh depending on the nature of his contract with them. Jammeh’s petition was as a presidential candidate for the APRC not as the president of the Gambia so government does not owe this man a Butut. If this man believes that he is owed money for his services he should sue Jammeh and APRC severally and or collectively and have his day in court.