Ahmadou Samba is a Lawyer cum Businessman with loads of
money in his bank accounts in
the Gambia and abroad; therefore one wonders why is he suing Freedomnewspaper and Pa
Nderry Mbye for $10,000. Eventhough, Mr Samba must have known that Freedomnewspaper,
which accepts $500.00 donations from Michael Scales
of the
that can easily afford to pay such a ransom.
It is further doubting that the Freedomnewspaper article had defamed Mr Samba as he claimed,
especially when the paper had retracted their publication and why does Mr Samba further
demands the disclosure of the names of all the informants of Freedomnewspaper in his claim.
The answer might be for many reasons, but surely monetary reason and defamation cannot be
at the heart of Mr Samba intention or agenda. Therefore, though I find it difficult to answer for
Mr Samba, but judging from Mr
Samba’s past actions especially with regards to the Gambian media,
I think the
answer to the above question might not as difficult as i thought it would.
Ahmadou Samba has started a test case, which
if he succeeds; he could end up silencing the
Gambian online media, just as how he silenced the Gambian press in the Gambia (I have explained
this point in detail below). The Gambian online papers which had for the past 5 to 6 years been our
only source of unfettered news from the repressive regime of the Gambian Dictator now faces it biggest
test, which could determine it future course of action.
Amadou Samba is no ordinary Gambian, as he would want us to
regard him, the man is a Multi
Million businessman and a close confidant of
Dictator Jammeh, who can hire any lawyer in America or
anywhere to fight a case for him
regardless of its merit; simply because he can afford it; a luxury which
many of our much needed hardworking journalists can’t afford.
Mr Samba could easily claim to be a private individual, who
has nothing to do with the Gambian politics or
public life, but in truth this man, to put it quiet mildly, is the backbone of the oppressive regime of Yahya
Jammeh.
But why would Mr Samba sue Pa Nderry for $10,000? The answer, consider it this
way, if Mr Samba is
successful in his $10,000 claim against Pa Nderry Mbye,
what will that do to Pa Nderry’s? It will not
only affect Pa Nderry Mbye financially,
but quiet frankly it will break his zeal to carry on publishing
Freedomnewspaper and the sort of articles his readers yearns to read; or more precisely he will not publish
any article that something to do with Ahmadou, whether it be truthfully or not. It will further
cow Nderry from
publishing critical news article's about the authorities in
the
the Daily Observer (to be discusse below).
This will not only be confined to the Freedomnewspaper editorial but
will plagued the rest of the Gambian
online media. To put it bluntly, it
will be the extermination of the Gambian media as we know it to date and
impose an editorial censorship, which had succeeded in destroyed the editorial impartiality of most Gambian
papers in the Gambia.
But imagine how Jammeh will feel about that success of his
best friend Ahmadou Samba in silencing the Gambian
online media; as he had succeeded
in silencing the
Oh yes! It is true that Mr Samba silenced
the Gambian press in the
the Daily Observer in around 1997 or 1998 (I can’t
fully remember the year), at a time when observer had D A
Jawo; as its news
editor, Sheriff Bojang, as its assistant editor in chief, and Baba Galleh Jallow, as editor in chief.
But shortly after Samba bought it DA Jawo was fired, Baba and others left to set up Independent.
Observer from then onwards transcend into becoming the APRC
mouth piece and a benchmark for the NIA to judge
the contents of other
newspapers in the
were deemed opposition papers and therefore shut down and even Killed one editor; Deyda Hydara.
When Mr Samba bought the Observer, many had welcomed it as
a good thing that Observer, the country’s only
daily newspaper, was finally
being owned by a Gambian. However, that many had been proven wrong; especially,
when in
1999, Jammeh bought 6 computers for the Observer from
owned paper instead of Ahmadou Samba. That speculation still remains
lingering and no one knows who owns the
paper, whether Jammeh or Samba.
What Samba gained out of that purchase was not only a
newspaper, but trust and close friendship from Yahya
Jammeh, as he had silenced the Observer, the mouth piece of independent journalists who were critical of the
regime. Samba further gained many lucrative government contracts from Jammeh. Samba and Jammeh are today
two of the most wealthiest
national budget of the Gambia.
So imagine the favours Ahmadou Samba will gain if he now succeeds in silencing the Gambian online media,
especially Freedomnewspaper! Ahmadou Samba is a Lawyer cum
Businessman on a treasure hunt. By that I
suppose we should now know what Ahmadou Samba intends to gain in his attempt to bring down Pa Nderry Mbye
and Freedomnewspaper as well as their informers.
Though I know very little about the
American legal system, but I would not be doing my conscience a justice if
I don’t
offer a suggestion to Nderry as to what I think will be the best way to counter
this menace of Ahmadou
Samba; regardless of how daft my suggestion my sound.
Firstly, Nderry must seek advice from an attorney and a very
good one for that matter to defend this case for him.
Furthermore, Nderry would
need the support of every Gambian who cares for press freedom in the
fighting this menace of Ahmadou Samba.
Nderry should further seek the involvement of International Media Organisation,
such IPI, etc; in order not only
to support him in the case but to help attract more publicity
than that anticipated by Mr Samba and his croonies.
Such publicity will teach the
big dollar businessmen of the
hardworking journalists like
Nderry in other to gain favours of the Dictator.
Such a publicity, will further attract the world's attention to the plight of
the Gambian press both in the
abroad, something which will not go down well with Dictator Jammeh and could backfire
on Samba’s attempts to silence
our online media from reporting unfettered news about the
Nderry should be encouraged to get in touch with all the International Media
bodies and can seek help from Baba Galleh
Jallow, Alhagie Yorro Jallow, Dr
Ebrima Ceesay, Haruna Darboe, and many more to fight this millionaire bankrolling
the Jammeh dictatorship. Let the be reported on CNN and BBC news channels.
We need a huge PR campaign to turn the page on Ahmadou Samba
and his millions. If possible, the case should be deemed
not as Amadou
Samba -v- Pa Nderry Mbye and Freedomnewspaper INC; but the Gambia Government of
Dictator Jammeh
-v- Exile Gambian Journalists.
Long live Freedomnewspaper!
Yanks Darboe
By Yero Jallow
First of all, I want to extend my bravo message to Pa and Freedom Newspaper for the courage and being there for Gambians at a time of need. The Freedom Newspaper was born out of dire need to rescue Gambians, and expose the tyrannical regime of Yaya Jammeh and his imbecile accomplices. The paper has done just that, though here and there, as humanity abounds, some snacks are sometimes broken, but in overall, the Freedom Newspaper is a vibrant paper. Over the years, readers have seen a tremendous improvement in terms of news reportage and information, especially pertaining to Gambia’s political affairs. For that, I unconditionally congratulate the Freedom Newspaper, and I humbly ask all freedom loving philanthropists to do the same.
As if wonders will never cease. Amadou Samba of all businessmen sues Freedom newspaper in a US court; following a previous reportage by Freedom Newspaper that Amadou’s name was mentioned in the ongoing cocaine investigation in the Gambia. In the complaint filed in North Carolina, Amadou is asking for US $10,000 compensation from Pa Nderry and Freedom newspaper. Further, he is also demanding Freedom Newspaper to reveal its sources. One wonders what he hopes to gain from the lawsuit even though Freedom retracted the story after the first publication, and published many other rejoinders including the one written by the Gambian authorities. One would also wonder if the one time mighty business man is getting “broke” nowadays which is not unusual in real life. To put speculation to rest, Amadou Samba needs to be seriously warned that the online community cannot be intimidated by such sycophantic moves. It is clear that his action to sue Freedom Newspaper is born out of jealousy, a direction to distract and handicap Freedom Newspaper for the simple fact that Freedom has been vocal against the Gambian tyrant Yaya Jammeh.
To give a lecture to Amadou Samba, journalists do not reveal sources. They are guardians of the society like the nocturnal night bats that keep flying around during the night to see the night secretes. Further, even God Almighty created day and night; the day in which light shines, and the night in which darkness spreads out. No one questions why there is day and why there is night. So therefore, no one questions a journalist to reveal sources. In the kind of dictatorship in the Gambia, only God knows what will happen to anyone whose name is mentioned. So to put it clearly to Amadou, let him back it off, as Pa will not reveal his sources to him or any other court. Period!
One also wonders whether Amadou Samba doesn’t have anywhere to spend his money nowadays. Gambians are ordering meat from Mauritania. Just at the start of Ramadan, basic commodities like sugar and rice were in scarcity in the Gambia. Beggars are rampant in the streets of Banjul and Serre-Kunda. Amadou is jumping all that, and now he wants to engage the online Freedom Newspaper in a brawl over a reportage that was done in good faith. Personally, I say move right ahead Amadou if it fits your pant. This is a court battle that you will woefully loose, and this is an absolute shame and disgrace on your person, added to your already damaged reputation for associating with a world renowned dictator Yaya Jammeh. Think about it Amadou. The ball is in your court now.
Coming back to the drug issue regarding the tons of cocaine that were traced in the Gambia, it is obvious that big heads are involved. The fact that top lieutenants like Bun Sanneh, Essa Badjie and the many others are all suspects makes Yaya Jammeh one of the dirtiest persons in the drug scandal. It goes further to say that all of Yaya’s associates might not be clean. So yes, nationally they are doing their investigations. Internationally, Yaya Jammeh and his gang are also being investigated. That is to say that no stone will be left unturned. The big figures masquerading in angelic uniforms while with shady characters will all be exposed. So Amadou doesn’t have anything to hide, he should go ahead to refute the story, and allow investigations to continue to the end. Matter of fact, his suing of Freedom might tamper with investigations being done. Factually, light will break some day. As Yaya is the tyrannical leader for now, most of the important details will be huddled for now, but we are not in haste as Gambians. The day will come when true justice will prevail over some of the covered nibs in cupboards of injustices and corruption will be exposed. That day, had I known shall never be known.
Personally, I am sending a very clear message to Amadou Samba. Clearly, the online community cannot be intimidated by any sycophantic breed. The best that you can do is to disassociate yourself with the killer rogue administration and move on with your life. You cannot win the battle you’ve started, and you stand a risk of spending your last dollar to be broke. Besides, this puts you in a more exposure to the international community. If you are not a cocaine dealer, why make so much noise out of this one. In simple terms, if you are not benefiting from this administration through your businesses, why are you so hooked up this administration like a blood sucker tapeworm? Boy, you truly make me sick. Common now, give us a holly break. Are you not observing the Ramadan? Or are you one of the demon worshippers? Either way Pa, you got my support. See you in court Amadou Samba. I am announcing my support for Freedom in this legal battle because you do not have any grounds to sue an innocent man. The US is not where you bribe mercenary judges to damage others lives, or have them jailed for years. I am rallying folks around. So once again, see you in court. We will notify your attorney that your case is a nonsensical case, and that he needs to drop without delay. We will further sign petitions to the Us Department of Justice. We will alert all media houses and media professionals that you have assaulted free existence. In turn, we will demand our compensation from your distracting assault. The whistle is blown, less you are tired, and we are not. If you come to court, we will rally hundreds of demonstrators in that court house. We will let the whole world know of your association with Jammeh, apparently a sycophant and an alleged drug dealer. So open your eyes and look through where you are walking….welcome to the media world. You are a looser!
Long Live the Freedom Newspaper!
Long live the media!
Down with tyrants and sycophants!!
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