The Gambia Bar Association has issued a strong warning, alleging that President Yahya Jammeh is plotting to use Nigerian lawyers to cling to power after losing the recent presidential election. Jammeh, who initially conceded defeat to opposition candidate Adama Barrow, later rejected the election results, raising concerns over his intentions to undermine the democratic process.
The association criticised the country’s judiciary, particularly Chief Justice Emmanuel Fagbenle, a Nigerian. It accused him of close ties to Jammeh’s regime and claimed he was central to efforts to disrupt the power transfer.
The Gambia Bar said it has “absolutely no confidence” in Fagbenle, citing multiple instances where he allegedly acted on executive directives that compromised the rule of law.
The bar association also pointed out that the Supreme Court in The Gambia has not held a session in nearly two years, which is against the law.
It noted that when the court convenes, judges are often handpicked by Fagbenle and the Attorney General, selecting qualified individuals from Commonwealth countries, including Nigeria, to hear cases over a short period. The group called for international attention, especially from Nigeria, to address the issue.
The association also highlighted that several high court judges appointed in 2016 were similarly handpicked from Nigeria. These judges include Justices Agboola, Ikoro, Uduma, Ogar, Dada, Sulaiman, and Otaba, raising further concerns about the independence of the judiciary under Jammeh’s influence.
Meanwhile, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and other West African leaders are scheduled to visit The Gambia to resolve the political impasse.
The diplomatic mission aims to persuade Jammeh to peacefully hand over power to President-elect Adama Barrow. Barrow won the December 1 election with 43.3% of the vote, against Jammeh’s 39.6%.
Jammeh’s reversal of his initial concession has sparked tension in The Gambia, with growing fears of political instability if he refuses to relinquish power.
