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The former Inspector General of police, Ensa Badjie, Lt Colonel Mam Matarr Secka and Major Kuluteh Manneh who are facing 30 criminal charges, Tuesday April 27th 2010 appeared before Justice Amadi of the High court in Banjul to take their pleas. As the court clerk started reading the charges sheet to the three accused persons, tears started rolling down Ensa Budgie’s eyes as he continuously shook his head, groaned, clapped his hands, and covered his face with both hands.
Ex-IGP Ensa Badjie is facing 14 of the 30 criminal charges (17 to 30) alone. The charges cover obtaining money by false pretence, official corruption, and abuse of office among others. All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against them by the state.
At that juncture, the director of public prosecution (DPP) Richard Chenge, made an application for amendment of the charges sheet and urged the court to withdraw charges against Ya Awa Samateh and Nema Ceesay the fourth and fifth accused persons respectively, on the ground that they intends to use the two as prosecution witnesses in the case. The DPP further submitted that the names of the two accused persons be withdrawn from all the charges, and for the court to strike out both counts 31 to 32 with respect to the two accused persons.
The presiding Judge, Justice Emmanuel Amadi granted the application of the DPP and accordingly withdrew the names of the two accused persons. He also struck out counts 31 and 32 as applied by the DPP. The judge then asked the court clerk to read the remaining 30 charges to the three accused persons in the persons of ex-IGP, Ensa Badjie. Lt Colonel Mam Matarr Secka and Major Kuluteh Manneh.
When count one, conspiracy to commit the criminal offence of sedition was read to them and asked as to whether they understood the nature of the charge Ensa Badjie quickly that he understood the charges and therefore, pleaded not guilty. He said, “my lord, I plead not guilty to this charge and it’s unbelievable. This is the first time that I am hearing such,” he told the court, but the presiding judge urged him to be calm as the court has not reached the stage of hearing the matter, rather the proceeding is meant for them to take their plea.
The former IGP further denied charges of obtaining money by false pretence, official corruption among others, saying this is the first time that he was hearing such and has never sat with any of the accused persons much more to set an eye on the complainants Aaron David Wright, Omar Ndow, Ikemefuna and Mohammed Ceesay.
He further made a passionate appeal to the court, saying, “My lord, I want to make an appeal to this court. I was arrested on the 2nd of March 2010 and since then I am kept in custody at the state Central prison at mile 11. I am not allowed access to either my family members or lawyer and I want this court to make an order for us to be allowed access to our families and lawyers. Allowing us access to our families will give us the opportunity to engage the services of a legal practitioner,” Ensa Badjie told the court, as the charge sheet he was holding dropped on the ground and was returned to him by the court clerk.
The DPP again intervened by making an application for the accused persons to be remanded in custody pending the outcome of the trial. The application was granted. The presiding judge at that juncture asked the accused persons as to who brought them to the court and Ensa Badjie replied that they were brought to the court by personnel of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) instead of the prison officials. Then an NIA officer came forward to answer to the judge’s question and denied having any idea about the allegations made to the first accused Ensa Badjie.
The NIA officer explained to the court that he was not in a position to say whether the accused could be allowed access to their family members at Mile two prisons or not. Justice Emmanuel Amadi then made it clear that the court will issue a warrant that will accord the accused persons access to their family members and lawyers. Don’t worry, your problem will be addressed soon you will be given the opportunity to see your family and lawyer, the Judge explained to the accused before adjourning the matter to Monday, May 3rd for hearing.
The former Inspector General of police, Ensa Badjie, Lt Colonel Mam Matarr Secka and Major Kuluteh Manneh who are facing 30 criminal charges, Tuesday April 27th 2010 appeared before Justice Amadi of the High court in Banjul to take their pleas. As the court clerk started reading the charges sheet to the three accused persons, tears started rolling down Ensa Budgie’s eyes as he continuously shook his head, groaned, clapped his hands, and covered his face with both hands.
Ex-IGP Ensa Badjie is facing 14 of the 30 criminal charges (17 to 30) alone. The charges cover obtaining money by false pretence, official corruption, and abuse of office among others. All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against them by the state.
At that juncture, the director of public prosecution (DPP) Richard Chenge, made an application for amendment of the charges sheet and urged the court to withdraw charges against Ya Awa Samateh and Nema Ceesay the fourth and fifth accused persons respectively, on the ground that they intends to use the two as prosecution witnesses in the case. The DPP further submitted that the names of the two accused persons be withdrawn from all the charges, and for the court to strike out both counts 31 to 32 with respect to the two accused persons.
The presiding Judge, Justice Emmanuel Amadi granted the application of the DPP and accordingly withdrew the names of the two accused persons. He also struck out counts 31 and 32 as applied by the DPP. The judge then asked the court clerk to read the remaining 30 charges to the three accused persons in the persons of ex-IGP, Ensa Badjie. Lt Colonel Mam Matarr Secka and Major Kuluteh Manneh.
When count one, conspiracy to commit the criminal offence of sedition was read to them and asked as to whether they understood the nature of the charge Ensa Badjie quickly that he understood the charges and therefore, pleaded not guilty. He said, “my lord, I plead not guilty to this charge and it’s unbelievable. This is the first time that I am hearing such,” he told the court, but the presiding judge urged him to be calm as the court has not reached the stage of hearing the matter, rather the proceeding is meant for them to take their plea.
The former IGP further denied charges of obtaining money by false pretence, official corruption among others, saying this is the first time that he was hearing such and has never sat with any of the accused persons much more to set an eye on the complainants Aaron David Wright, Omar Ndow, Ikemefuna and Mohammed Ceesay.
He further made a passionate appeal to the court, saying, “My lord, I want to make an appeal to this court. I was arrested on the 2nd of March 2010 and since then I am kept in custody at the state Central prison at mile 11. I am not allowed access to either my family members or lawyer and I want this court to make an order for us to be allowed access to our families and lawyers. Allowing us access to our families will give us the opportunity to engage the services of a legal practitioner,” Ensa Badjie told the court, as the charge sheet he was holding dropped on the ground and was returned to him by the court clerk.
The DPP again intervened by making an application for the accused persons to be remanded in custody pending the outcome of the trial. The application was granted. The presiding judge at that juncture asked the accused persons as to who brought them to the court and Ensa Badjie replied that they were brought to the court by personnel of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) instead of the prison officials. Then an NIA officer came forward to answer to the judge’s question and denied having any idea about the allegations made to the first accused Ensa Badjie.
The NIA officer explained to the court that he was not in a position to say whether the accused could be allowed access to their family members at Mile two prisons or not. Justice Emmanuel Amadi then made it clear that the court will issue a warrant that will accord the accused persons access to their family members and lawyers. Don’t worry, your problem will be addressed soon you will be given the opportunity to see your family and lawyer, the Judge explained to the accused before adjourning the matter to Monday, May 3rd for hearing.
