3 Ministers sacked, treason trial of Gen Tamba, 6 others begins in Banjul High Court

--Also Gen Lang Tamba blasts Gambian press

By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-In-Chief

In what many Gambians characterize as the beginning of the end of President Yahya Jammeh’s shameful regime, he has yet again, sacked three Cabinet Ministers earlier this morning. The three are Finance Minister, Abdou Colley, Trade Minister Baboucarr Jallow and Justice Minister, Marie Saine Firdaus.

Gambia's mad leader, Yahya Jammeh

Abdou Colley is replaced by Momodou S. Foon as Finance Minister. Until his elevation, Foon was Permanent Secretary of National Planning.

Baboucarr Jallow is replaced by Dr. Njogou Bah as the new Trade Minister. It can be recalled that Dr. Bah was demoted only three days ago and was only last night sworn in as Deputy Works Minister. A cloud of suspicious continues to hang over his alleged bogus doctoral degree that he purportedly claims to have received from an unknown American university. It remains to be seen how long his qualifications issue will be resolved by the powers that be. Many however argue that his is only a matter of time as President Jammeh will sooner rather than later, put him too, in his proper place.

Finally, Marie Saine Firdaus is replaced by former police officer and veteran Gambian lawyer, Edu Gomez. In the coming days, The Gambia Echo will run a damning scoop on the relationship between lawyer Gomez and President Yahya Jammeh.

In another development, the high profile treason trial of General Lang Tombong Tamba and six others begins at the Banjul High Court this morning. The treason case is presided over by Justice Emmanuel Amahdi. During today’s proceedings two of the accused persons, Abdoulie Joof (a. k. a Laye Joof) and Yousef Ezziden (a.k.a Rambo); the Lebanese businessman accused of complicity were represented by lawyers Hawa Ceesay-Sabally and Sheriff Tambadou. However, General Lang Tombong Tamba, former NIA Chief, Lamin Bo Badjie, DIG Momodou Gaye, former NIA Acting Director General, Gibril Ngorr Secka, and Lieutenant Kawsu Camara (a.k.a Bombardier) did not have lawyers at the time of hearing. All seven defendants pleaded not guilty to a barrage of allegations that between January 2009 and December, 2009 they had conspired to overthrow the regime of Yahya Jammeh from power. Curiously, as we went to press, the regime had opted to withdraw the cases of Colonel Ndure Cham and one Omar Camara believed to be at large from the case.

Drama at today’s hearing: during today’s hearing, General Lang Tombong Tamba requested that the trial judge bar the Gambian press corps from covering the case. Tamba claims that ever since their detention in November, 2009, the Gambian media had refused to highlight their plight for the international community to recognize their dismal detention conditions. He accused the Gambian media of bias and sees no reason why they should cover their treason trial. The trial judge, Justice Emmanuel Amahdi, overruled General Temba’s malicious objection and told him categorically that journalists were free to report the proceedings without preconditions. The case was adjourned to Monday March, 22, 2010.