By Landing Ceesay
Justice Ademola Bakre of the High Court of the Gambia has adjourned the civil defamation lawsuit filed by Abubakary Jawara against Momodou Sabally to the 17th of January 2023. When the case was mentioned, Counsel Ida Drammeh, the lawyer representing the Plaintiff, Abubakary Jawara, informed the court that her client is absent.
Counsel Drammeh, in a plea, told the court that when a matter is before the court, no one should make comments that would undermine the integrity of the court and that there are comments on social media that are meant to do just that.
Counsel Abdoulaye Fatty, the lawyer representing Momodou Sabally (the defendant) informed the court that his client will not say or do anything that would undermine the integrity of the court.
Counsel Fatty further informed the court that they are yet to file their defense, but they will do so. He said they still have 10 days to file their defense.
In response to Counsel Drammeh’s plea for decorum, Justice Bakre said he doesn’t want to see anyone who is not, directly or indirectly, related to the case in his courtroom again.
“I only want to see the two parties in my courtroom. If you don’t have a direct link to the case, don’t ever come to my courtroom. Counsel Fatty, I don’t know whether they can speak English, or not, but tell them that I don’t want to see them in my courtroom again. The only people I want to see are the two parties plus the Journalists. I don’t want to see any other person apart from these people,” he said.
Justice Ademola Bakre further stated that if anyone tries to disrespect him, he will use his power to take that respect out of them.
Momodou Sabally (the defendant) has been served a Writ of Summons to appear before the High Court in Banjul on November 14th, 2022, to respond to a civil suit filed by Abubakary Jawara (the plaintiff).
Abubakary Jawara is claiming: Damages for defamation and slander; an order directing the defendant (Momodou Sabally) to issue an unreserved apology to the plaintiff (Abubakary Jawara) to be published widely circulating national newspapers; An Order that the defendant does pay to the plaintiff the sum of GMB 8,000,000.00 being special damages; A perpetual injunction restraining the defendant (Momodou Sabally) either through his agents, cronies, associates, contacts, or further defaming, the plaintiff (Abubakary Jawara) in any way or manner whosoever; Interest at the rate of 15% per annum until the date of judgment; Cost; and for such further or others as this Honourable Court deems fit.
The Court has been adjourned to 17th January 2023 for further mentioning