Senior Magistrate Kayode Olajubutu of the Banjul Magistrates court, yesterday, April 16th 2008, convicted and sentenced 9 MFDC rebels on different charges preferred against them, ranging from one to five years.

Before handing down the sentences on the 9 MFDC rebels, senior Magistrate Olajubutu had listened patiently and carefully to the plea of mitigations made by the accused persons, who had been in detention for more than a year, while the police were on their investigations.

According to the senior magistrate, he made reference to the almost 7 months litigation which was characterized by receiving evidences from both the prosecution witnesses and the accused persons. According to him, the prosecution has proved its case beyond all reasonable doubt against the accused persons.

The first to be sentenced by senior magistrate Olajubutu were Sidat Jarju and Ebrima Colley, who bagged five-year jail terms without any option of fine on all the 6 counts preferred against them.

Nuha Jammeh who was also labeled a notorious member of the MFDC rebels got a jail term of four years without any option of fine.

The remaining 6 accused persons were sentenced to various terms; Lamin Teww Sambou got three years, Ansumana Jarju and Tamsir Badjie got two years 6 months without any option of a fine.

Jospeph Jatta , Abdou Salam Jammeh and Wuyei Jarju were sentenced to two years, five years and 6 months, and one year respectively.

Magistrate Kayode Olajubutu ordered the exhibits tendered in court to be forfeited to the state, except the bag of charms, which he asked to be returned to the owner as it has no official value.

It could be recalled that the 9 MFDC rebels had been charged with 8 counts of terrorism and other illegal activities in The Gambia.