Nigerian Judge Sends 7 Gambian Journalists to Mile II Prisons
By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-In- Chief
Foroyaa Editor, Sam Sarr & Point's Editor, P.Saine
Predictably, the seven Gambian journalists who were rounded up and detained at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and later granted bail by the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court on sedition charges a week ago; have been remanded at the maximum-security wing of the most dreaded prison in Africa-Mile II Central Prisons. This latest twist follows their appearance this morning at The Gambia High Court before Nigerian born Justice Wowo who is among a number of wanting judges at service of Gambia's autocratic dictator, Yahya Jammeh.
The seven Gambian journalists are, Reuters News Agency’s Central and West Africa Dean also, Managing Editor of The Point newspaper, Pap Saine, his News Editor, Ebrima Sawaneh, Foroyaa newspaper Chief Editor Sam Sarr, his reporter Aboubacarr Saidykhan The Gambia Press Union’s (GPU), Treasurer, Mr. Pa Modou Faal, GPU Secretary General, Bai Emily Touray and GPU’S First Vice President Mrs. Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, the only woman who also happens to be nursing a six-month old baby. She was later granted bail on what appears to be humanitarian grounds for lack of a better phrase.
The six others remain in remand at Banjul’s notorious Mile II Prisons until July 8th 2009 when their defence counsels are expected to submit bail applications.
In a related development, just this morning, Amnesty International in collaboration with trade unions and journalism organizations sent a powerful petition letter to Gambian dictator, Yahya Jammeh during a demonstration before the Gambian High Commission in the UK. Please click below to access the letter handed to the Gambian High Commissioner this morning.
http://www.nuj.org.uk/getfile.php?id=714