By Landing Ceesay
Lead Counsel Lamin A. Ceesay, representing Plaintiff Abdoulaye Thiam, informed the court on Wednesday that his client is prepared to testify in his lawsuit against Aisha Fatty (1st Defendant) and the Inspector General of Police (2nd Defendant).
Thiam was scheduled to appear in court that day to pursue his case against both defendants. In his lawsuit, he claims that Aisha Fatty breached a promise of engagement, leading to emotional distress and public embarrassment.
Thiam further alleges he sent gold to Fatty for business purposes, but received no returns, and is also seeking the return of two vehicles he provided her.
The Inspector General of Police is named as a co-defendant in the civil suit.
However, when the case was called, Lead Counsel Ceesay informed the court that his client was absent.
“My lord, we wish to inform the court that our last witness is unable to make it in court today. The reason is that when we left the court on the last adjourned date, we called our client to say that he should be in court today. Unfortunately, the witness was not in Senegal by the time the information was shared with him, and he is now back in Senegal yesterday. My lord, he (Mr. Thiam) profoundly apologized to the court and the counsels on the other side, and he assured his presence on the next adjourned date,” Counsel Ceesay told the court.
Counsel Lamin S. Camara, representing Aisha Fatty, did not object to Counsel Ceesay’s submission but informed the court he would be out of the country from November 6 to December 6, 2024.
“My lord, I wish I could indulge my learned friend. I informed the court on the last adjourned date, I will be traveling out of the country on Sunday. But I will be back on the 6th of December. I want to deal with this Witness personally. I want to cross-examine this witness myself. “I am not saying that to undermine the competency of my counsels; they are super competent. This counsel, here with me and the head of my chamber, is very competent. But if my Lord would recall, I deal with the witness myself, even though my counsels are here. So I want to deal with this Witness personally,” Counsel Camara informed the court.
Following discussions among the court and both counsels, Hon. Justice Ebrima Jaiteh adjourned the case to December 11, 2024.