News
High Court forces Gen Tamba, 5 others to plead without attorneys
Yankuba Jambang, Editor & Publisher, Senegambianews.com
Published 03/19/2010
- 4:58 p.m. GMT
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Credit - The Point
L-R Ngorr Secka, Lang Tombong, Bombadier, Ndure Cham, BO Badjie, Modou Gaye and OB Mbye
Slide Show
A High Court judge in the Gambia has forced the country's former Chief of Staff of the army, Lt. Gen. Lang Tombong Tamba and five other senior officers to take their plea on treason charges.
Justice Emmanuel Amahdi, a Nigerian judge, said Gen. Tamba and five other accused army officers must enter their plea on Friday, with or without legal representation. Amahdi's statement followed a refusal by the former chief of the army and his colleagues not to take their plea without legal representation in court.
General Tamba told the court that they have been in detention for over four months without access to an attorney or family members. He said they were only informed of the treason charges in the last twenty-four hours and, as a result, they could not take their plea without legal representation. But the judge ruled that out, sayingthe state could provide the accused persons with attorneys.
General Tamba who, according to our reporter, appeared to be the spokesperson for the six accused persons without attorneys, declined the proposed provision of court appointed pro bono attorneys, saying they could afford their own legal counsel, provided the court gives them time.
The Gambia government says Gen. Tamba, Brigadier General Ndure Cham, Brigadier General Omar Bun Mbye, Colonel Lamin Bo Badjie, Lieutenant Colonel Kawsu Camara (alias Bombardier), Modou Gaye, the former deputy Inspector General of Police, Gibrile Ngorr Secka, Abdoulie Joof (alias Lie Joof), Yousef Ezziden (alias Rambo), Omar Camara and others, believed to be on the run, had from January 1 to December 19, 2009, at Bijilo and other places, conspired to stage a coup d'etat and overthrow the president, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh and the democratically elected government of the Republic of The Gambia by force of arms.
All but two of the accused persons appeared in court on Friday, with only Yusef Ezziden (alias Rambo) and Abdoulie Joof (alias Lie Joof) having Awa Ceesay-Sabally and Sheriff Tambedou as defense attorneys.
Both Awa and Sheriff pleaded with the court to give Gen. Tamba and five others without attorney, enough time because the offenses allegedly committed were capital offenses which could carry death sentence or life imprisonment.
But the judge remained unmoved and ordered the six to enter their plea. They pleaded 'not guilty' to all the three counts of treason.
The matter was adjourned to Monday, March 22, and Justice Amahdi saidthe trial will be swift from that date, as he promised a daily trial of the accused. Gen. Tamba and his co-defendants have been remanded in custody until Monday.
Gen. Tamba confronts media
Our reporter says the former army chief was arrogant and angry at the press in the court. When he saw journalists entering the courtroom, the former chief was quoted as saying "you journalists, why are you here? We have been in detention for over four months, and no newspaper wrote about it. And when we are brought to court, you all rushed to cover the case".
Although none of the journalists in court responded to the General at the begining, Foroyaa newspaper reporter, Fabakary Ceesay, reminded Gen Tamba that his paper had published his arrest and detention. According to our reporter Ceesay was compelled to respond when Gen. Tamba said: "You journalists, get out!" after the judge had risen.
Justice Emmanuel Amahdi, a Nigerian judge, said Gen. Tamba and five other accused army officers must enter their plea on Friday, with or without legal representation. Amahdi's statement followed a refusal by the former chief of the army and his colleagues not to take their plea without legal representation in court.
General Tamba told the court that they have been in detention for over four months without access to an attorney or family members. He said they were only informed of the treason charges in the last twenty-four hours and, as a result, they could not take their plea without legal representation. But the judge ruled that out, saying
General Tamba who, according to our reporter, appeared to be the spokesperson for the six accused persons without attorneys, declined the proposed provision of court appointed pro bono attorneys, saying they could afford their own legal counsel, provided the court gives them time.
The Gambia government says Gen. Tamba, Brigadier General Ndure Cham, Brigadier General Omar Bun Mbye, Colonel Lamin Bo Badjie, Lieutenant Colonel Kawsu Camara (alias Bombardier), Modou Gaye, the former deputy Inspector General of Police, Gibrile Ngorr Secka, Abdoulie Joof (alias Lie Joof), Yousef Ezziden (alias Rambo), Omar Camara and others, believed to be on the run, had from January 1 to December 19, 2009, at Bijilo and other places, conspired to stage a coup d'etat and overthrow the president, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh and the democratically elected government of the Republic of The Gambia by force of arms.
All but two of the accused persons appeared in court on Friday, with only Yusef Ezziden (alias Rambo) and Abdoulie Joof (alias Lie Joof) having Awa Ceesay-Sabally and Sheriff Tambedou as defense attorneys.
Both Awa and Sheriff pleaded with the court to give Gen. Tamba and five others without attorney, enough time because the offenses allegedly committed were capital offenses which could carry death sentence or life imprisonment.
But the judge remained unmoved and ordered the six to enter their plea. They pleaded 'not guilty' to all the three counts of treason.
The matter was adjourned to Monday, March 22, and Justice Amahdi said
Gen. Tamba confronts media
Our reporter says the former army chief was arrogant and angry at the press in the court. When he saw journalists entering the courtroom, the former chief was quoted as saying "you journalists, why are you here? We have been in detention for over four months, and no newspaper wrote about it. And when we are brought to court, you all rushed to cover the case".
Although none of the journalists in court responded to the General at the begining, Foroyaa newspaper reporter, Fabakary Ceesay, reminded Gen Tamba that his paper had published his arrest and detention. According to our reporter Ceesay was compelled to respond when Gen. Tamba said: "You journalists, get out!" after the judge had risen.
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