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"Mighty" Aziz Tamba Has Fallen! Tamba Says Jammeh will soon join him At Mile Two?
Aziz Tamba, Gambia's former Co-President has joined the list of disgraced Jammeh hit men in jail. It would take eight good years before the former "mighty" Tamba would regain freedom. A local court presided over by Magistrate Moses Richard has sentenced Tamba on corruption and arm possession charges. Tamba was one of those APRC bigwigs running President Jammeh's errands. It's alleged in some quarters that Aziz Tamba was among the State House junglers who kill perceived political opponents. Today, Tamba is a guest at the "Hell Fire" Mile Two, to borrow the expression used by Sana Bairo Sabally. Tamba's jailing should serve as an eye opener to other junglers serving President Jammeh at this hour. President Jammeh is only interested about power and would not hesitate to sacrifice his right hands if his interest is threatened.

Going through the police charge sheet brought against Aziz Tamba one can easily tell that the gist of the said case was concealed for reasons best known to the authors of the indictments. This very paper reported about the unpaid gas bills purportedly spearheaded by Aziz Tamba and some APRC bigwigs. We also reported that Tamba was armed round the clock and usually took part in the torture of political detainees. The government should be bold enough to tell us what led to the imprisonment of Aziz Tamba. Tamba was created by President Jammeh like any of the junglers today running his show.

As we piece this write up together, we gathered that Aziz was jailed for spiritual reasons. He had a beef with one of his tribe men prior to his arrest and subsequent imprisonment. Aziz was linked to supplying "Faked Jujus" to President Jammeh. The Jolla state house insider accused Aziz of 'urinating and spitting" in some of the Jujus (charms) he Aziz purportedly collected on behalf of Jammeh from some Marabouts names withheld for now. Jammeh, we were told consumed the said Jujus with the intention of further gripping power. Aziz Tamba according to sources was implicated by the said state house insider who accused him of trying to win the support of President Jammeh through spiritual means by supplying him with such infectious "Jujus."

President Jammeh's first reaction was for Aziz to be murdered. He was cool down by some of his tribe men related to Aziz currently working at the state house. It's unfortunate that Aziz Tamba had made President Jammeh to drink his urine in the name of blind folding him. Aziz wants Jammeh to okay whatever he tells him. Some state house insiders said Aziz was very close to taking over from Jammeh. Jammeh at some point listens to Aziz more than his own parents. It was Aziz Tamba who set up Abdoulie Kujabi and other Fonikas today languishing in jail. Jammeh never heeded to his Mum's advise to let Aziz go. The old woman cried repeatedly over Aziz's conspiracy plans to implicate the Kujabis. Aziz was not only widely feared by the army, but Jammeh's own close relatives. The President treated him as his pet son. Jammeh eat and drink with Aziz. Aziz used to travel to Guinea to run his marabout errands. The said state house insider according to my source is today recruited by Jammeh to monitor the activities of "junglers and some top army officers." Jammeh believes that the said insider was more efficient than even his own NIAS.

Aziz Tamba should thank God for preserving his life. Jammeh previous orders for his killing was reversed, following an intervention by some relatives. To those of you who do not know Aziz, he is a non Gambian from Casamance. Tamba can hardly read or write English. His close ties with the President was due to his wrestling activities. Tamba was one of those wrestlers hired by Jammeh to perform in Kanilai. Tamba later emerged as a "Kings man" in the making. His case reminds us about the Baba Jobe saga. Like Aziz, Bourr Jobe was also disowned one morning by Jilanka. Jobe was so arrogant that he threatens political opponents and members of the security forces believed to be sympathizing with the opposition.

In as much as, we despised the activities of Aziz Tamba, we must point out that the fast track trial he was exposed to was against the rule of law. It appears that Tamba was forced to plead guilty to avoid the killing orders issued by Jammeh. There was no word from the said judgment to suggest that the accused person was provide with the services of a counsel. Tamba was just escorted from prison and paraded before magistrate Richard. Richard, supposedly a learneded lawyer ought to know better. His judgment exposes his corrupt and lack of independent stance as a magistrate. Richard is one of those magistrates, who pronounces accused persons guilty well before the trial proper kicks- off. This could be manifested by his vou conversations and family discussions. Richard is doing a great disservice to the legal profession. In as much as, he eyed for top government post, he should allow he rule of law to take its cause. The bogus judgments he is issuing to please the Presidency would be judged by posterity. Common sense should have dictated to him that Tamba was entitle to the services of a lawyer. Yes, the man was a jungler, but in the eyes of the law "All accused persons" are presumed innocent until proved guilty" by a competent court of law. Why the hasty conviction?

Magistrate Richard's main objective is to get a Ministerial appointment. He uses his court to vilify senior members of the bar. Justice should guide his actions. The same Richard told me few days ago that President Jammeh changes his mind about appointing him Judicial Secretary following a power struggle. He was one of those who used to undermine Ngui Mboob. Now that his friend and colleague Kebba Sanyang is in charge of the Justice Ministry Richard would soon realize his dream. The two are birds of the same feathers. They lied and set up their colleagues for the sake of position. Richard should remember that the very government he is busy pleasing would come to an end one day. The judiciary should not be politicized. A magistrate who worth his or her salt would have asked the state to allow Tamba to engage the services of a lawyer or to be provided with one if he finds it difficult to secure one.

Aziz Tamba is gone. The military, the NIA, government officials and those supporting Jammeh should think twice. Jammeh is a retarded President,who lacked conscience and moral. He cares about his interest and not that of the Gambia. Here we have a mad President holding the country into ransom. It's not possible that all those jailed by Jammeh were wrong. By the time, we as a nation realize Jammeh's madness, it would be late in the day.

Aziz Tamba's jailing is just the tip of the iceberg. Jammeh operates based on what his marabout and the state house insider tells him. The Singhatehs, the Army Chief of Staff Colonel Lang Tombong Tamba, Massaneh Kinteh and others are far from being secured. They will one day join Aziz Tamba at Mile Two if they fail to watch their back. They are working with a confused and mad President. It's time for Gambians to disown Yahya Jammeh. We cannot afford to have a country of a jail house. Out of every five Gambians you met today, they will tell you that they tested jail. Insecurity continues to grip Citizens on a daily basis. Aziz Tamba deservers what he gets, but we condemned the lack of judicial independence in the Gambia. The ship of state is sinking. Aziz Tamba told a friend that Jammeh would soon meet him at Mile Two. We look forward to that day. There would be many Aziz Tamba's At Mile Two. Lets nurture the rule of law in the interest of peace, justice and fair play.

Posted on Thursday, December 07, 2006 (Archive on Thursday, December 28, 2006)
Posted by PNMBAI Contributed by PNMBAI

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