By Our Banjul Bureau Chief Landing Badjie.
Paid For and Commissioned by the Freedom Newspaper.

The Chief of Niamina Dankunku, Samba Ceesay, has been removed from his
chieftaincy position, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. The chief of Jarra
East,Fafanding Darboe as well as the chief of Jarra Central, Haruna Sabally,
were also retired without been  tired. According to sources, the retirement
of the two chiefs as well as the termination of the services of the Niamina
Dankunku chief were politically-motivated in that all their replacements
were known to be APRC  sycophants.Mr Ceesay has been replaced by Alhaji
Kebba Ceesay, a former intelligence operative and a native of Dankunku
whilst Fafanding was replaced by Ansumana Kanyi. Sabally Haruna was replaced
by Momodou L.Ceesay who was defeated on an APRC ticket in the last
legislative polls.

The Ruling APRC is currently faced by internal divisions. Supporters of the
sacked chiefs said the sackings were politically motivated. The chiefs were
legally elected into office. Their random sacking is raising more doubts
across the country. A Gambian legal luminary questions the constitutionality
of their removal. The legal mind said the chiefs can only be removed if
there is  credible evidence of corruption, abusive of office or infirmity of
mind established by a competent enquiry." What's happening in the Gambia is
a total lawlessness. The rule of law is under attack on a daily basis by the
executive, which is expected to safeguard it. These sackings are not
justified at all. It's illegal and constitutional. The President is
exceeding the powers conferred on him by the constitution. This is an
assault on our judicial system." said the lawyer who wished not to be named.


According to the lawyer, the sacking of these chiefs can be contested in the
High Court, but was quick to add that the judiciary is no longer independent
in the Gambia. The lawyer said besides Common Wealth judges, most of the
government appointed judges and magistrates dance to the dictates of the
regime." In order to keep their jobs, they have no alternative but to do
what the government wants. This is the type of situation our bench is faced
with today. It's unfortunate that the executive had undermined the bench's
usefulness. Obtaining justice is a rare thing to come by in the Gambia. Most
of the sound judgments are passed by the Common Wealth hired judges." said
the legal luminary.

An insider at the state house said he suspects that the  President "is
suffering from unsound mind. His decisions are never tabled before us. He
acts without informing anyone. He passed judgments without listening to the
other accused party. Everyone here is woried about the President's low life.
Anyone can make up allegations against public officials and get them fired
as long as you posed as a di-heart party supporter. None of these chiefs
have committed any crime. They removed them because some party officials
don't want to see them any more. His next line of action would be directed
at Divisional Commissioners now called Governors. That I can confirm to
you."said the insider.

Local Government Minister Sambou was indisposed for comments on the sacking
of these chiefs. But an insider at the local government Ministry said" The
SOS has no choice but to sign the sacking letters. The order came from the
top. I was present when he lamented about the move to sack the Chiefs
without factual evidence. It was not an easy move for Sambou to sign the
letters, but he was compelled to do it. Everyone in this office is
complaining about the naked injustice meted out to these chiefs."said the
insider.




Posted on Sunday, May 27, 2007 (Archive on Monday, June 25, 2007)
Posted by PNMBAI  Contributed by PNMBAI
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