By Buba Gagigo
APRC No to Alliance has declared that the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia, along with agreements involving the AU, ECOWAS, and the UN, protects former President Yahya Jammeh from prosecution.
“The government decision to prosecute Jammeh is unlawful, unconstitutional contrary to the provision of the above-mentioned mediation on which the Gambia government relied on to settle for a lasting peaceful solution where the AU, ECOWAS, and the UN commended President Jammeh for his goodwill and statesmanship after exploring all the factors that could determine any atrocities, and gross human rights violations for a warrant for his arrest and prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC) only to vindicate him by commending him,” No To Alliance Leader Yahya Tamba said during a press conference.
Tamba further emphasized that The Gambia’s 1997 Constitution contains legal provisions that shield any president from prosecution, civil or criminal, for actions taken during their tenure in office, which includes President Jammeh.
“We therefore called on the government to stop your malicious campaign against Jammeh knowing fully well that the declaration is binding. The emergency bill and the TRRC have no legal powers from our constitution to determine whether President Jammeh should be prosecuted as the TRRC recommendations are politically motivated citing the lead council using the TRRC ground to gain the promotion of his hidden agenda against Jammeh and his desire to challenge President Barrow to become the president of the Gambia,” Tamba said.
These remarks were made by APRC No to Alliance leader Yahya Tamba at a press conference organized on Monday in preparation for Jammeh’s upcoming birthday celebration.