By Bruce Asemota
The Supreme Court of The Gambia presided over by Chief Justice Hassan Jallow and four other judges has refused to grant an interim injunction sought by Gambia Participate and the Centre for Research and Policy Development against the clerk of the National Assembly, auditor general and minister of finance on the D54.4 million loan scheme for National Assembly Members and staff.
The plaintiffs want the court to make an order directing the auditor general not to grant approval for the payment of D54.5 million to the legislature pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
They also asked the court to make an order directing the finance minister to hold the money in the public interest and not to pay pending the hearing and determination of the case.
They wanted the court to make an injunction against the clerk of the assembly, his subordinates, any intended beneficiary and whomsoever from applying for, raising of warrants, preparing payment vouchers or any documents to access the sum or any part of it by himself, staff of the National Assembly Services and National Assembly Members pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
The attorney general in his submission urged the supreme court not to grant the plaintiffs’ application
But in its ruling yesterday, the court declared that it is not a proper case to grant the interim relief sought by the plaintiffs and accordingly dismissed the motion adding that the decision will be incorporated in the final decision of the case. No date has been fixed for the final judgment.
