“I’m very grateful to God for saving my life. I’m very grateful that the accident has thought me things that are most earn in life. My health condition is improving very satisfactorily. My doctors and myself are very confident at the rate of my progress and we anticipate that I should be back on my feet if this trend continues. Independent reports indicated that this was an attack or an attempt to exterminate me. It would be reasonable to contend that those independent investigative reports are being factually probable and cogent. The Gambian Government really has a very checkered questionable history with regards to human rights. With regards to murder including Deyda Hydara and so many others and these are yet to be resolved or brought to the public light by the authorities. So it would be a logical conclusion that if something of this nature, which places mine in the same box happened to reasonably conclude that this could be the case. I do not have any personal verification for this, but again this is what is being speculated by very credible sources. “ These were the exact words of Gambia’s leading Human Rights Lawyer Mai Fatty, who recently survives an assassination attempt. A trailer truck driver believed to be an agent of The Gambian Government ran on his car, leaving the popular lawyer motionless. Mr. Fatty was immediately rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital, prior to his evacuation to a Dakar based hospital. In this Exclusive interview with the Freedom Newspaper, Lawyer Fatty commented on reports he received linking agents of The Gambia Government to the incident, Gambia’s alarming human rights record, unfinished persecution he suffered from the hands of the Jammeh Government, Baba K Jobe blood diamond case, the police’s attempt to get him debarred by questioning his credentials as a trained lawyer, Jammeh’s wealth, properties owned by Government officials overseas, rising corruption in The Gambia, the ailing economy and a lot more. Below is part one of the interview we had with Mr. Fatty who was on his sick bed. Please read on……………………..
Freedom Newspaper: It was recently reported that there was an attempt on your life in The Gambia. What actually happened?
Mai Fatty: My attention was directed to an investigative report conducted by another Newspaper and in addition to it when the accident happened I became very, very unconscious. I was taken to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital. Shortly later I was taken to a special clinic in Dakar to handle multiple injuries that I sustained to my body. So I was not personally privy.. But I understand that independent investigative reports were conducted by independent people. It would be reasonable to contend that investigative reports are factual and probable and also cogent.
Freedom Newspaper: So you were attacked?
Mai Fatty: Independent reports indicated that this was an attack or an attempt to exterminate me. It would be reasonable to contend that those independent investigative reports are being factually probable and cogent.
Freedom Newspaper: But the Daily Observer had reported that you were involved in a car accident. There are conflicting reports. Some say Mai was attacked by an armed group, while there is this road accident story circulating in Banjul. What's the true story?
Mai Fatty: It’s untrue that the Observer reported about my accident. It was mentioned twice and on both occasions, only one sentence was used and precisely in relation to my absence from court in the cases that I was instructed. The first case involved the 32 young Gambians who were arrested at diverse places, near Brufut and Kombo and detained at the Mile Two Prisons for nearly two weeks and charged for trying to travel to Spain by boat. I provided them free legal service in the public interest, of course with the consent of parents and guardians and got them out of Mile Two, conducted their defense and the IGP went and dropped charges against all of them for insufficient evidence.
On the day of their acquittal and discharged, I have already been hospitalized at a clinic in Dakar. And my absence in court was consequently reported as having been attributed to the accident. This article was reported in the June 2007 Edition of the Observer. There was no explanation as to how the accident happened. It was merely in respect of my absence from court on that very day. And the second time it also mentioned in a single sentence, was the treason case against my client Mr. Sonko at the Banjul High Court. And again exclusively in connection to the similar reason of my absence in court and consequently the holding of brief on my behalf by lawyer Krubally and this was also in December. And clearly, no reports such as you are alluding to ever made by the Observer at any material time, anywhere at all. So they actually never reported about on the causes of the accident. They merely reported my absence in court and attribute to an accident and in both instances only one sentence was used.
Freedom Newspaper: Do you know the people who assaulted you? If yes, can you name names?
Mai Fatty: That again, I will answer this question by reference to investigative reports, one of them featured in The Gambia Echo, which my attention was directed. I was hit by a trailer truck and from there I was unconscious. I didn’t know what happened. And that was why I have been out of the country on treatment. So I have not been independently…I’m not personally in the country or spoken to authorities, an independent information, which would mean suggests that may be the case.
Freedom Newspaper: Do you suspect that the Gambian Government might have hands in this incident?
Mai Fatty: The Gambian Government really has a very checkered questionable history with regards to human rights. With regards to murder including Deyda Hydara and so many others and these are yet to be resolved or brought to the public light by the authorities. So it would be a logical conclusion that if something of this nature, which places mind in the same box happened to reasonably conclude that this could be the case. I do not have any personal verification for this, but again this is what is being speculated by very credible sources.
Freedom Newspaper: Is the office of the Inspector General of police aware of the incident? If yes, what steps are they taking to bring the perpetrators to book?
Mai Fatty: I would say that yes, the Inspector General of Police has been informed. The officers of the police were on the scene at some point and are aware of it. But I’m not aware of any investigation into the causes of the accident. And I didn’t know if any investigation was conducted or there was no investigation conducted at all. If there was an investigation conducted, I’m not in the position to comment on it now because I do not have the opportunity to see that report in order to make an informed opinion. That I’m not in the position to say right now whether they did or not.
For one thing I know which is a fact, my vehicle was left on the road packed for days and days and was eventually towed away by my friends. And it’s normally the responsibility of the police to tow this vehicle and take it for evidential purpose or for investigating purpose. That, they did not seem to exercise any investigation on that. And that’s a very troubling thing.
Freedom Newspaper: Do you suspect any foul play?
Mai Fatty: Yes again, like I said, I’m not from my personal knowledge in the position to say yes or no to that. I believe with reference to the two issues you raised before this question regarding as to the involvement of persons or authorities, this is quiet sufficient to answer this.
Freedom Newspaper: As we speak, where are you right now?
Mai Fatty: A big laugher….I’m out of the country, as you very well know. I’m not in The Gambia. I will live it with that.
Freedom Newspaper: What is the status of your health condition?
Mai Fatty: I’m very grateful to God for saving my life. I’m very grateful that the accident has thought me things that are most earn in life. My health condition is improving very satisfactorily. My doctors and myself are very confident at the rate of my progress and we anticipate that I should be back on my feet if this trend continues.
Freedom Newspaper: You have mentioned that a trailer driver ran on your vehicle, what happened to this driver? Is he apprehended?
Mai Fatty: I have no information as to that. As such as my colleagues informed me, I do not think that anything has been done with regards to this incident.
Freedom Newspaper: Will you be in the position to identify the person who hit your car?
Mai Fatty: No, I cannot. I was driving, it was night. Not very dark. Obviously I was both attentive to the possibilities of any one hitting me from the opposite side. But I didn’t identify him.
Freedom Newspaper: Since the said incident, The Gambia Bar Association have not issued any statement. Do you feel betrayed by the Bar?
Mai Fatty: I do not agree with that. The Bar has been extremely very, very supportive. The Gambia Bar Association has been exceedingly supportive. The Bar Association fully financed my immediate evacuation to Dakar for medical treatment with expedition. They make sure that an independent paid physician was attending to me by my bed side during the entire flight. And they also facilitated the protocols with the receiving clinic in Dakar. The GBA further paid a substantial part of my medical bills in Dakar and kept the line of Communication open with my family members. I was being kept on regular contact by individuals, several personal visits to me in Dakar, through SM messages ETC. It has been a family affair and this is part of my spirit on my strength during my admission.
Freedom Newspaper: That sounds good, but has the Bar dispatched any of its Executive Members to pay a courtesy call on you?
Mai Fatty: The Secretary General of the Bar visited me in Dakar five times, at two stay each trip. The President of the Bar Association together with the Assistant of the Female Lawyers Association of the Gambia FLAG also came to visit me in Dakar with goodwill solidarity message from the general membership. The Chief Justice also phoned me to express support. What more could I ask of my colleagues? I’m very proud of them and I’m profoundly humbled by their unanimous demonstration of solidarity, support, care and concern.
Let me say that the President of the Bar Association stayed by my bed side in Banjul, on the evening of the accident till 3am in the morning and organized an emergency meeting to urgently worked out my immediate evacuation from Banjul. The Social Secretary of the Bar with some of my friends expedited the financial and trade arraignments of the situation over night ensuring a huge mobilization. The wives of two lawyer friends, put their abundance meal for the hospital to feed many visitors crowded in my hotel room. The outpouring of care and support was phenomenal. These and more were the gallant efforts of my colleagues and friends in the Bar during my times of dire need. It’s therefore not only inappropriate but I see it unacceptable to blame the Bar under any circumstances.
Let me by extension express my deepest appreciation to so many Gambians who sent cards, called or visited my office for support and prayers and the many who visited my residence to consult my Madam.
Pa, Gambians are indeed very compassionate and sharing when the occasion calls for it. And I have been privileged to be the beneficiary of Gambians looking after their own and this is the case not because I’m as one might consider as a public figure. This is how our people are under such circumstances. It’s very humbling and life experience for me and my family. I’m grateful.
Freedom Newspaper: Mr. Fatty critics always accused you of being at a loggerhead with the Government. Why are you always at a loggerhead with the Gambian state?
Mai Fatty: I do not invite confrontation. I also do not invite controversy. I believe that I’m a Gambian with my constitutional right and these rights are not donated to me by any source or any authority. These are my birth rights and I consider it unacceptable totally at all times for any individual authority or force to try to quash the full exercise of my rights. And if this is the case, then there is yet to be a confrontation with whoever that may be. Let me also say that I have a civic responsibility to defend and protect the rights of my fellow Gambians whenever they are threatened. And when this threat comes from any quarters, there is bound to be confrontation because Freedom is not something that is donated. It’s something that you earned and you have to fight it, for you to keep it.
So I believe I would say in all of the times that I have been.. I had some encounters, many, many encounters with Government forces or Government agencies always has to deal with something dealing with Civil rights. And if this is the case, I’m really happy to be criticized.
Editors note: Part two of the interview will hit the Freedom Newspaper pages soon. We are busy transcribing the interview. There are disturbing revelations to come. Read and digest this masterpiece interview. Lawyer Mai Fatty has let the cat out of the bag. The criminals in Banjul has been exposed beyond redemption. Stay tuned….