I Have No Case To Answer – OJ

Former Agriculture Minister in the outsted PPP Administration Amadou Omar
Jallow, alias OJ has argued that he has no case to answer and that his
current daily detention was politically motivated.

OJ was speaking to The Point yesterday shortly after his release from police
custody on charges of assaulting one Salka Faal of Eboe Town. The Police are
now in a fix. I am sure they must have been advised that even if we go to
the courts they will be embarrassed, because I cannot be charged for a crime
I have not committed.

Two, if we go to the courts they will embarrassed. Three, if they go to the
courts, I will prove that the charges are false. OJ emphasised. When asked
whether he was implying that he has no case to answer, he had this to say
”All these arrests and detentions are politically motivated”. Further
quizzed as to why his detention was politically motivated, the former
Serrekunda East parliamentarian said’ “Oh! Because of my popularly and the
effective campaign that I have wagged against the APRC and its government.

On whether he felt threatened by the latest developments OJ responded that
he was not the least threatened. “Oh! I have never felt threatened. Even in
1994, I seriously and vehemently spoke against the AFPRC and the APRC. I was
detained on 11 occasions and at the last occasion for 14months for me not to
be around for the presidential and parliamentary elections. But I have never
been deterred. I am committed to my country, my people and my children.” OJ
added that he owes it to his children and the country to ensure that freedom
and liberty came back to this country.

When asked what government is going to earn in this saga, since it is a
misdemeanor case, he replied: “ Yes, because it is a misdemeanor case it
doesn’t even register in your personal file. So, a misdemeanor case is just
like it never existed. So for me nothing now, nothing in this country can
stop me from contesting an election, nothing except death.

When told: reports seem to suggest that your ordered your militants to
assaults the lady, How true is the information”? OJ told The Point” Oh! It
is not true and it is the joke of century. I have been a member of
parliament for Serrekunda for 17 years. There were political activities.
There were elections between parties and within these 17 years I was dubbed
the most popular member of parliament not only in my constituency but in The
Gambia. There has never been any single police case between my supporters
and the supporters of the parties that used to challenge me.

OJ added that he is not a violent man and as a politician his primary
message is to preach for peace and reconciliation. When asked whether the
state was planning to withdraw the charge against him, OJ had this to say
“well that is the rumour. But I am waiting. For me, I don’t care. If they
withdraw it, it is OK. If they don’t, it is Okay. I know I am not guilty and
I will never be guilty, because it is a false charge. OJ told the Point that
his followers are law abiding and that “ All the indiscipline youths in this
country belong to the APRC.

Therefore, I am encouraging my young people to continue in their
determination and commitment, so that once and for all we will remove this
despotic government. OJ is expected to report to the Kairaba police station
today. Since Mr. Jallow’s detention, the Kairaba Police Station has been
continuously stormed by OJ militants from various walks of life in some kind
of sit-in.







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