By Bruce Asemota
The Supreme Court of the Gambia, presided over by the Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow, Justice R.C.Sock, Justice M.M.Sey, Justice Awa Bah and Justice E.F. M’bai, has declared that Yankuba Touray, the former Junta member of the AFPRC government led by ex-president Yahya Jammeh is not entitled to constitutional immunity.
A unanimous decision by all the five judges, read by the Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow, declared that the former Junta member is indicted in the alleged murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay in June 1995.
The Chief Justice stated that on the 12th October, 2020, lawyer A. Sissohor applied orally to the High Court, where he was on trial, urging the court to discharge Yankuba Touray on the ground that as a Junta member of the AFPRC from 1994 to 1997 and pursuant to paragraph 13 (1) (3) (4) and (5) of the second Schedule to the Constitution of the Republic of the Gambia, enjoys immunity from prosecution of the alleged murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay.
The ruling noted that the High Court, after hearing the submission of both parties, decided pursuant to Section 127)1) of the Constitution to refer to the Supreme Court as to whether Yankuba Touray is entitled to constitutional immunity.
The Chief Justice pointed out that having considered the oral submissions and written briefs of both parties and the briefs of the friend of the court, the Supreme Court held that Yankuba Touray is not entitled to constitutional immunity from prosecution for the alleged murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay.
The Supreme Court directed that the High Court proceed with the trial of Yankuba Touray as charged.
Meanwhile, the High Court is expected to send hearing notices to both the State (prosecution) and the defence (lawyer A. Sissohor) as to when the trial would commence.
The Supreme Court declared that the reasons for the decision will be delivered by the court in due course.
BB Dabo
Meanwhile, the court has also declared that Gambians living outside the Gambia are entitled to register for and vote in elections to the office of president, members of the National Assembly, for local government offices and traditional rulers as well as in referenda.
This declaration is contained in a judgment delivered in the civil suit filed by Bakary Bunja Dabo, Cherno M Njie, Pa Samba Sadaga Jow, Jeggan G Grey Johnson and Sidi Muhammed Sanneh against the Attorney General and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
The Chief Justice, in delivering the judgment, said the plaintiffs by writ of summons filed on the 11th September, 2020 invoked the Supreme Court original jurisdiction and sought the following reliefs:
(a) Declaration that Section 17 of the Elections (Amendment) Act 2015 is made in excess of the legislative authority.
(b) A declaration that the amendments to section 105(1) inserting paragraphs (e), (f) and (g) and subsection (2) (i) and (j) and also amending subsection (2) (f) of the Elections Act Cap 3:01 volume 1 of the laws of the Gambia by section 17 of the Elections (Amendment) Act 2015 unconstitutional.
(c) An order striking out section 105(1) (e) (f) and (g) and subsection (2) (f) (i) and (f) of the Elections Act as amended by section 17 of the Elections (amendment) Act, 2015;
(d) An order directing the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC( to register Gambians living outside the Gambia to enable them participate in all public elections and referenda and other orders the court may deem fit to make.
Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow asserted that the plaintiffs also filed a statement of case dated 18th August, 2020, whilst the defendants each filed a statement of case in reply.
Justice Jallow noted that following the consideration of the written and oral submissions of all parties, the Supreme Court struck out the declarations sought by the plaintiffs relating to chapter IV sections 17 to 38 of the Constitution for lack of jurisdiction
The Chief Justice declared that the Independent Electoral Commission has a duty to go and register Gambians living outside the Gambia.
He stated that Section 17(1) (e) of the Elections (Amendment) Act 2015 requiring all members of the Executive of a political party to be resident in the Gambia is ultra vires, noting that members of the Executive of a political party can be resident outside the Gambia and they don’t need to be resident in the Gambia, hence the said sections 41 and 60 of the Constitution are null and void and be severed from the Elections Act.
