The defense lawyer for Yankuba Badgie, a former director of National Intelligence Agency, said they are making a ‘no case to answer’ submission.
The state prosecutors in the criminal trial of 7 former National Intelligent Agency have on Tuesday closed their case, while the defense is given a week to file ‘a no case to answer’ submission.
The 7 NIA officials are charged in connection to the murder of Ebrima Solo Sandeng, a Gambian opposition activist who died in state custody on April 15, 2016.
The case started with 9 former NIA officials but the second accused, Louise Gomez who was the deputy director of NIA at the time of Sandeng’s death, died in state detention while another person is discharged.
The case which is before Justice Kumba Sillah-Camara of Banjul High Court is being handled by independent prosecutors led by Antouman Gaye.
E Chume the defense counsel for the first accused person Yankuba Badjie informed the court that they will also be filing a no case to answer and will want the court grant them one or two weeks to do so.
In her ruling, Justice Camara said the court can only grant the defense one week for its no case to answer submission.
The case has taken 2 years and the prosecution team has called 35 witnesses in the trial.
The accused persons are Yankuba Badjie, an ex-director of the NIA; Sheikh Omar Jeng, an ex-director of operations at the NIA; Baboucar Sallah, Haruna Suso, Tamba Mansareh, Lamin Darboe, and Lamin Lang Sanyang.
The 2nd accused person Louise Gomez, an ex-deputy director of NIA, passed away in Government custody, during the course of the trial. However, Yusupha Jammeh, the 6th accused person was discharged by the Court, upon the State’s application.
The case is adjourned to May 29, 2019 for mentioning on the ‘no case to answer’ submission.
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