By Alieu Ceesay
In a dramatic turn at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court on Monday, police prosecutors withdrew charges against Momodou Camara, reducing the number of defendants from four to three in the high-profile “unlawful protest” case linked to the controversial removal of Auditor General Modou Ceesay.
Presidential aspirant Kemo Fatty, and GALA top leadership in Alieu Bah, and Omar Saibou Camara now stand alone, facing two counts of “causing annoyance, obstruction, or inconvenience to the public” under the Public Order Act. All three pleaded not guilty.
The case stems from a demonstration outside the National Audit Office (NAO) in July against President Adama Barrow’s decision to sack Auditor General Ceesay—an action critics brand “unlawful” and which is currently being challenged at the Supreme Court of the Gambia over constitutional powers.
Police Superintendent Dawda Jallow, Officer Commanding Serekunda Division, took the stand as the prosecution’s first witness. Under oath, he told the court how he received intelligence of an unauthorised gathering at the NAO.
“I deployed officers immediately. Upon arrival, I warned Alieu Bah and Kemo Fatty several times to disperse because they had no permit from the Inspector General of Police,” Supt. Jallow testified. “They insisted they would protest with or without permission. When the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) arrived, the three were arrested and taken to Kairaba Police Station.”
Cross-examination turned heated when defence counsel Lamin S. Camara accused the prosecution of violating his clients’ constitutional rights by failing to disclose witness statements before trial.
“My lord, disclosure is not a privilege—it is a constitutional guarantee under Section 24 of the 1997 Constitution,” Counsel Camara thundered. “If the prosecution cannot produce these statements today, we have no interest in continuing this charade.”
Police Commissioner Abdoulie Sanneh, representing the IGP, promised: “We will furnish defence with all documents immediately after this sitting.”
Magistrate intervened decisively: “The prosecution is hereby ordered to furnish the defence with all witness statements and related documents before the next adjourned date. Failure will not be tolerated.”
The courtroom erupted in murmurs as the case was adjourned to 15 December 2025 for compliance with disclosure and the presentation of the second prosecution witness.
As The Gambia awaits the Supreme Court ruling on the Auditor General’s removal, Monday’s proceedings signal that the battle for accountability has moved from the streets to the courtroom—and the youth are not backing down.
