BY PA NDERRY M'BAI


  Judicial sources reaching this paper say,  the sedition trial case involving the Gambian opposition leaders had been transferred to Justice AK Savage's  court with immediate effect, even the trial judge Justice MA Paul had earlier refused to rescue himself from the case amidst credibility problems  raised by the accused persons.

  According to our sources, the Chief Justice had transferred the said case to Savage's court and the detainees had instructed their lawyers to file bail on their behalf. Sources say Hamat, Halifa and OJ will likely be released on bail on the next adjourned date schedule for next week.

  At their first appearance in court, the three opposition leaders refused to take their pleas before Justice Paul, as they said they don't expect to receive fair and impartial trial before the Nigerian hired judge MA Paul. Justice Paul is widely feared in The Gambia, as many observers believed that he was hired by the President to imprison government critics and opponents. His independence as a  judge is widely questioned in many quarters and he  always  bragged in court that he fears nobody and would do whatever he wanted to do in The Gambia.

  Just last year, Gambia's fire brand politician Lamin Waa Juwara,  was sent behind bars for six months on sedition charges by Justice Paul, despite repeated pleas by his lawyer Borry Touray for Juwara's case to be transferred to another high court judge. Paul insisted in hearing the said case, and later jailed Juwara.

  The former Jarra West MP and majority leader Baba K Jobe was jailed for nine years and eight months by Paul,  on economic crime charges. "Justice Paul is one of those judges who enjoyed state backing as his  court is often guarded by armed paramilitary officers and state agents. This often intimidate accused persons and their witnesses, as many will be afraid  to testify in such politically motivated cases."said an observer.

  Now that the opposition had succeeded in getting their case transferred, observers say other government opponents will likely follow suit,  as Paul is said to be a "mercenary judge" hired to bully and jail Gambians.

  In the meantime, The Bar Association had ceased appearing before Justice Paul's court, amidst corruption allegations  against the said judge. The Bar says  unless Paul is cleared from such grave charges by a competent court of law, they will not appear in his court.  Justice Paul was among the public officials recently indicted by the National Assembly for "massive corruption and abuse of office."  Millions of dalasis reportedly went missing at the government  AMRC offices, which Paul headed prior to his appoiment as a judge.  The House probe committee had since recommended for the prosecution of Justice Paul and Co. But for some unexplained reasons, the state is not keen at pursuing the case against Paul and others.

  It would be recalled that the said corruption scandal against  Justice Paul and Co was unveiled by the jailed NRP leader  Hamat Bah.







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