By: Alieu Ceesay
TAT understands that two prominent lecturers at the University of the Gambia, Dr. Alieu Gibba and Professor Matarr Njie, have filed two separate lawsuits against the University’s management for defamation and unlawful dismissal.
The two academic scholars received a dismissal letter from the UTG accusing them of breaching institutional confidentiality and professionalism. Dr. Gibba and Prof. Njie felt the dismissal was unjust and deeply personal due to his years of dedication to the institution.
Dissatisfied by the ‘unlawful dismissal,’ Gibba and Njie, through thier legal counsel, Malick Jallow, filed an unlawful dismissal case against the University of the Gambia as the first defendant, Bobo Baldeh, acting Registrar at the Kanifing Industrial Tribunal, as the second defendant which is expected to hear the lawsuit in December 9, 2024
They are now claiming that thier dismissal by the University is ‘ unlawful, unfair, malicious and repugnant to the principles of natural justice and ultimately amounts to a breach of thier employment.’
The two are also claiming damages of D5,000,000,00 as compensation for thier reputational damage and distress suffered by the plaintiffs due to thier unlawful dismissal.
Dr. Gibba and Professor Matarr Njie were dismissed on November 15, 2024. The UTG management cited “serious misconduct” as the basis for their termination, claiming the pair’s actions had tarnished the University’s reputation. However, Dr. Gibba has vehemently denied the accusations.
“These allegations are serious and unfounded,” he said, describing the claims as baseless and malicious.
Meanwhile, Dr. Gibba and Professor Njie also filed a defamation lawsuit against the University through their legal representatives. They are demanding the University retract the “malicious and unfounded” allegations and issue a public apology after the University accused them of Embezzlement, Nepotism, and favoritism in the conduct of university affairs, sexual harassment, False declaration of academic credentials and curriculum vitae (CV), Discipline, Abuse of Power, Misappropriation, and Abusing the University to solicit private funds.
In the defamation lawsuit, they initially sought compensation of GMD 30,000,000 for Dr. Gibba and GMD 25,000,000 for Professor Nji. They also requested the recovery of all expenses related to the court process if the defendants failed to issue an apology, which they did not.
The lecturers now seek compensation of D60,000,000 for Dr. Gibba and D40,000,000 for Prof. Njie due to an allegedly defamatory statement the University issued against them.
They assert that their termination violates the principles of fairness and integrity, which they believe UTG ought to uphold.
