Gambia: Court Jailed Opposition Leader Due To Lack Of Lawyer

Principal Magistrate Emmanuel Nkea Says Since Lawyer Darboe Fails To Show Up To Represent His Client, He Has No Alternative But To Remand Peters

By Staff Reporter Lamin Jallow, Banjul

United Democratic Party Propaganda Secretary Femi Peters, is currently serving as a guest at the Mile Two prisons, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. Mr. Peters was remanded by the Banjul Magistrates court this morning,  following his attorney’s failure to show up in court. Principal Magistrate Emmanuel Nkea issued an order instructing prison authorities to detain Peters, until such a time that he is able to secure the services of an attorney. Mr. Peters is expected to appear in court Thursday morning.

Earlier on, Femi Peters showed up in court without the presence of his lawyer Ousainanou Darboe. Mr. Darboe, who is the leader of the opposition UDP later arrived in court, and requested the matter be “stand down” until 11:00 am, when he Darboe would be available to represent his client. Darboe told the court that he was going to be busy during the period in question, and asked for a  brief court recess. His request was granted by the presiding magistrate, but as soon as the adjourned time elapses, the case was called again. At this time, Lawyer Darboe was nowhere to be seen, and no reason was advanced for his absence in court.

Principal Magistrate Emmanuel Nkea then ordered for the immediate remanding of Femi Peters. He adjourned the case to Thursday October 29^Th, 2009.

Court spectators expressed concern over Lawyer Darboe’s failure to show up in court as promised. They said Peters’s case should take precedence over any business matter. "He should have seen his situation as precarious before engaging in any other thing. I would not have done such a thing either. This man put his life on the line for his party. His case deserved attention," a disgruntled court spectator.

On the other hand, some argued that it is unfair to blame Lawyer Darboe. “He  has always been there for his people and others in other troubled situations like that of the female journalist with a baby that was remanded with other six journalists,” said a court spectator.  

Mr. Darboe could not be reached for comments at press time. What is evident though, Femi Peters has been remanded by the court.