Gambia: 6 Nigerians and a Gambian accomplice may face more charges
By Own Correspondent – The Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, M.Abdullahi, yesterday told the special crime court presided over by Justice Ikpala that the state may file more charges against six Nigerians and a Gambian accomplice currently facing trial.
DDPP M. Abdullahi was responding to a bail application filed on behalf of the accused persons by their defence counsel, Sagarr Jahateh.
The accused persons: Joseph Okeke, Nonso Mbosah, Anuwa Ibiam, Arinze Izuchukwu, Pius Patrick, all Nigerians, and Awa Touray, a Gambian, are on trial for alleged multiple offences ranging from conspiracy to commit a felony, abduction, obtaining money by false pretence, obtaining goods by false pretence and stealing.
They were alleged to have adducted one Justin Leibig, an Australian national, some time in 2009 at Kololi to subject him to grievous harm. They vehemently denied the charge.
Abdullahi submitted that the prosecution was strongly opposed to the bail application filed by the defence, adding that the decision whether or not to grant bail was at the discretion of the court.
He added that the court should not only have regard for the interest of the accused persons, but also the society in which they live in.
“There is a likelihood that more charges will be brought against the accused persons, as the prosecution are on the verge of amending count 2 and 4 against the six applicants,” DDPP stated.
DDPP further argued that the charges preferred against the accused persons are very serious, and urged the court to consider the nature of the charges and the summary of the evidence.
He added that the investigation into the case is ongoing, and urged the court to dismiss the defence counsel’s application.
At that juncture, the case was adjourned till 4th November 2010, for the sixth prosecution witness to testify, and 8th November 2010 for ruling on the bail application.
The Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, M.Abdullahi, yesterday told the special crime court presided over by Justice Ikpala that the state may file more charges against six Nigerians and a Gambian accomplice currently facing trial.
DDPP M. Abdullahi was responding to a bail application filed on behalf of the accused persons by their defence counsel, Sagarr Jahateh.
The accused persons: Joseph Okeke, Nonso Mbosah, Anuwa Ibiam, Arinze Izuchukwu, Pius Patrick, all Nigerians, and Awa Touray, a Gambian, are on trial for alleged multiple offences ranging from conspiracy to commit a felony, abduction, obtaining money by false pretence, obtaining goods by false pretence and stealing.
They were alleged to have adducted one Justin Leibig, an Australian national, some time in 2009 at Kololi to subject him to grievous harm. They vehemently denied the charge.
Abdullahi submitted that the prosecution was strongly opposed to the bail application filed by the defence, adding that the decision whether or not to grant bail was at the discretion of the court.
He added that the court should not only have regard for the interest of the accused persons, but also the society in which they live in.
“There is a likelihood that more charges will be brought against the accused persons, as the prosecution are on the verge of amending count 2 and 4 against the six applicants,” DDPP stated.
DDPP further argued that the charges preferred against the accused persons are very serious, and urged the court to consider the nature of the charges and the summary of the evidence.
He added that the investigation into the case is ongoing, and urged the court to dismiss the defence counsel’s application.
At that juncture, the case was adjourned till 4th November 2010, for the sixth prosecution witness to testify, and 8th November 2010 for ruling on the bail application.
