FYI

Chief Justice, Others Fired

Panafrican News Agency

January 23, 2001

Banjul, Gambia

Chief Justice Felix Lartey has been sacked, according to judicial sources
quoted in the independent Daily Observer Tuesday in Banjul.

The sources said he was sacked along with Ousman Jammeh, Master of the
Supreme Court and acting judicial secretary as well as Magistrates Haddy
Roche and Camara.

The sole daily newspaper in Gambia, Daily Observer, quoted legal sources as
saying that Attorney General and Secretary of State for Justice, Pap
Cheyassin Secka broke the news of the sacking of the top judicial personnel
to them on Monday.

Neither have they been replaced nor official reasons given for the
dismissals.

But the Observer suggested that some members of the Legal Bar Association
were worried that the dismissals may not be unconnected with efforts of the
affected judicial officials to uphold the integrity and independence of the
Gambian judiciary.

Justice Lartey succeeded the Sierra Leonean-born, late Justice Omar Alghali
whose contract with the Gambia government expired in 1998.

All efforts to contact the Attorney General and the affected judicial
officials bore nought.




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