Gambia's Interior minister Ousman Badjie who was indicted by the April 10
Commission of enquiry has been fired with  effect from today,  reliable
sources confirmed yesterday.  He is replaced by Sulayman Masaneh Ceesay,  a
former official of the public service commission.  Sources say Badjie's
sacking could be linked to his Department's failure to tackle the veil
controversy hitting the country's public school system.  Badjie was
assigned with religiuos affairs, and his removal is attracting a heated
debate in Banjul.  He was not only Jammeh's friend but as well as a brother.

Sulayman Masaneh Ceesay, does not know any thing about security and observer
believe Jammeh is losing hope in his administration.  It is widely
speculated that the dictator  may end up relinguishing power in the near
future.  The regime is said tobe faced with acute cash shortage and
development partners such as the IMF and the World Bank have lamented about
the level of corruption the tiny West African country.

In a related development,   reports say  senior magistrate Abubacarr King
had absconded from the jurisdiction of the Gambia.  King is linked to a
major corruption scandal which hit the Brikama magistrate court.  Court
fines collected from litigants  were  reported unaccounted for.  Sources
also say judgements were expunged from the case files.  This is estimated to
be about 45 cases.  The judiciary is said to be pursuing the case.  King
believed to be a Sierralean national, only claimed Gambian citizenship after
the 1998 Sierralean war.  With the help of some Gambians he secured the
national document.  He is believed to be in the United States with his
family.  The judiciary says he is on leave, but competent sources say King
will never return to the Gambia.  He was send to Mecca for pilgrimage by the
ruling APRC.  This shows how the regime induces judicial staff.  It is
estimated that court fines amounting to hundreds of dalasis are reported
missing at the Brikama magistrate court.

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