Hamat & OJ case struck out

The five panel of judges of the Supreme Court of The Gambia, led by Chief Justice Abdou Karim Savage, yesterday, struck out the appeal suit filed by Mr Hamat Bah, the leader of the opposition National Reconciliation Party and Omar Jallow (OJ) of the People’s Progressive Party ( PPP).

This decision follows after the counsel for the complainants, lawyer Ousainou Darboe, informed the court of his clients’ intention to withdraw the case from the court.

According to Lawyer Darboe, he filed in a notice which was served to the director of Public Prosecution.

The attorney general and secretary of state for Justice, Marie Saine-Firdaus, who was assisted by Emmanuel Fagbenle, the director of Public Prosecution, did not object to the submission of the plaintiff’s counsel.

Chief Justice Savage, at that juncture announced the court’s decision to strike out the case.

The chief justice also announced the court’s decision to adjourn the Local Government Act and constitutional case to the next session of the court. According to Justice Savage, the decision was based on the lack of proper constitution of the court, which is supposed to be presided over by seven panel members.

“We adjourn the case to the next session, by then, the court will be properly constituted,” concluded the chief justice.