The Independent National Assembly member for Kombo Central Hon. Buba I Sanneh is reportedly in legal tussle with the Inspector General of police. According to our source Mr. Sanneh got into a physical confrontation with a resident in his family compound when the resident was playing loud music and disrupting the peace and quietness in the family compound. Mr. Sanneh after warning the resident who has been his dependent for over 20 years went to shut down the music. This resulted into a push and pull and the unnamed resident fell and sustained minor injuries. He reported the matter to the police and Mr. Sanneh was asked to report to the police station.
In confirming the story to gainako, Mr. I Sanneh who is a popular independent national assembly member told Gainako’s anchor MamaLinguer that the story is true but “it is a family matter”. He acknowledged that the case has been taken over by the IGP who are showing an unusual interest in the case which should be a family matter. Mr. Sanneh said the case has been taken before the Brikama magistrate court and he has been charged with one count of trespass and the case is being handled by Magistrate Hilary U. Abeke. Sanneh confirmed that his next appearance in court is scheduled for February 22nd at the Brikama Magistrate court.
Magistrate Abeke who is another Nigeria judge serving in the Gambia government. He has been accused of being a mercenary judge mostly siding with the government. He said on the Gambia court of appeal and has his fingers on several high profile rulings. He is also known to have dismissed other high profile political cases such as Foday Barry’s, former Director of Intelligence who was accused of committing fraud. He sentence a Nigerian citizen Mr. Edwin Kwakaeme Director of African Democracy and Good governance who was accused of giving false information to the President of the Gambia. Magistrate Hilary also presides over several other cases.
In a rather surprising twist Mr. Sanneh’s accused who is his dependent has decided to withdraw the case against the Hon. However, sources alleged that there may be an executive interference on the case which has ordered the IGP to prosecute the politically popular National Assembly member which could lead to his conviction and ultimate lost of his Parliamentary seat. Asked about the possibility of the case being a political witch hunt, Mr. Sanneh said it is baffling to see the amount of interest the IGP has in this case especially given the fact that it is a family matter and that he could not have committed any crimes by entering into his own family compound. Sanneh said he is a law abiding citizen and a law maker and therefore he will not and is not accusing anybody of witch hunting. He said he has not thought about what actions to take but that he has fate in Allah and that he will defend himself no matter what it takes.
The case according to Gainako’s source is attracting a lot of interest in the Gambia. Mr. Sanneh could be a victim of political witch hunt to drive him out of the national assembly. It is clear that Sanneh’s popularity is causing some discomfort within the ruling party and therefore any opportunity to get him out of the national assembly would not be a far reach for the politically vulnerable APRC party. Sanneh said he is not aligned with any political party as he contested as an Independent candidate and won his Kombo Central seat. He is one of four other independent candidates serving as National assembly members. Sanneh has been affiliate of the UDP party and was going to contest as a MP for the party until the party boycotted the APRC did everything to last parliamentary elections. The APRC tried to win him over several times but he refused. Sanneh’s case is yet another test of political witch hunt and it remains to be seen how the judge will handle a minor case that the plaintiff withdrew which also has political implications.