Calm down we will get out of this, Mambury Njie tells weeping relatives

Mambury Njie Ex-Finance Minister (Photo: State House Profile)

Relatives of Gambia’s former Finance andEconomic Affairs Mr. Mambury Njie broke into tears on Monday after the High Court in Banjul rejected a bail application filed by his lawyer.

“Calm down this is just a process. We will go out of it,” Mr. Njie told weeping relatives before he left the court room. He was later whisked away by prison officials.

Justice Mikailu Abdullah, a former Chief Prosecutor, presiding, decided to dismiss the application for bail. According to him, there is no evidence to show that the former minister is under detention.

“I hereby dismissed the bail application on the grounds that there is no evidence that shows that the accused person is under detention since December 14, 2012. There is no detention warrant,” Justice Mikailu ruled on Dec. 31, 2012.

Mr. Njie is charged with two counts of “Economic Crime” and “Abuse of Office” but he is yet to take his plea. He first appeared at the Banjul Magistrates Court and his case was later transferred to High Court, hence, the lower court lacks jurisdiction to preside over economic crimes.

Several media reports indicated that Mambury Njie, 50, is detained at the State’s Central Prison, Mile 2.

In a 34 paragraphs written request, the defence counsel Lamin S. Camara argues that the continuous detention of the accused person is unconstitutional and it deprives him of his liberty.

However, Justice Mikailu who rejected the request on Monday, urge the defence to make a proper application.