All eyes are set on the presiding judge, Justice Emmanuel Amadi of the High Court in Banjul, in the ongoing treason trial involving the former chief of Defence Staff  of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), Brigadier General Lang Tombong Tamba and seven others, as he is expected to deliver his judgement today.

The High Court judge, had on the last adjourned date, Monday, the 5th of July 2010 adjourned the case to today, Thursday, 15th of July 2010 for judgement, after both the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Richard Chenge and the team of defence counsel comprising Sherrif Tambedou, PC Secka and Hawa Sisay-Sabally, adopted their written addresses in the court.

The DPP Richard Chenge, since the start of the trial on the 19th of March 2009, announced his representation for the state, assisted by his deputy, Abdulai Mikailu, while Sherrif Tambedou announced his representation for the 1st, 2nd and the 7th accused: Lang Tombong Tamba former CDS of GAF; Omar Bun Mbaye, former deputy CDS  of GAF and Abdoulie Joof alias Lie Joof. PC Secka stood in for the 3rd, 5th, 6th and the 4th accused: Bo Badjie, former head of the Military  Intelligence of GAF; Modou Gaye, former  deputy IGP; Gibril Ngorr Secka, former head of Mission at the Gambian embassy in the Republic of Guinea Bissau and Kawsu Camara, former head of the Kanilai Family Farm.

Hawa Sisay-Sabally announced her representation for Yousef Ezzedine alias Rambo.The trial was characterised by adducing of evidences from both the prosecution and the defence. The prosecution, led by the DPP Richard Chenge first opened their case by calling 16 witnesses. The first prosecution witness was Ebrima Marreh, who adduced among other things that three separate meetings were held in the two residences of the former CDS of GAF, Lang Tombong Tamba.

According to the PW1, who served, two meetings were held in the Kololi residence of Lang Tombong Tamba and the third meeting was  held in his Bijilo residence, where money was paid to the PW2, Rui Jabbi Kassama, who claimed to  be an international drug dealer.

Further adducing his evidence in chief before the High Court Ebrima Marreh  alleged that the former CDS of GAF had sent him  on spying mission on the Farafeni barracks, located in the North Bank Region of The Gambia. Marreh's one and a half-week long testimony; both his evidence in chief and cross-examination covered many issues such as his alleged one-night stop in Kanilai at the house of Kawsu Camara alias Bombadier; the trip to Farafeni; his encounter with Yerro Jallow, Camp commander of the Farafeni Barracks; his arrest and detention in the said Barracks; his alleged confession about the people who assigned him to spy  on the said Barracks; his journey to  the head quarters of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in Banjul; his appearance before the panel of investigators into the alleged November 2009 foiled coup among others.

The second principal witness of the state, Rui Jabbi Kassama also told the court of among other things his alleged contact with Gibril Ngorr Secka, former head of Mission at the Gambian embassy in Guinea Bissau; the alleged assignment given to him by Ngorr Secka to secure arms and ammunition for the purpose of over-throwing the democratically elected government of The Gambia, under the leadership of President Jammeh.

The PW2, adduceed evidence on issues such as the 21 cows scarificed at a seaside in Guinea in the early hours of one Friday, the juju obtained from a marabout in Guinea Bissau by both Ngorr Secka and Kukoi Samba Sanyang, the alleged training of 300 mercenaries, an assignment given to him by Ngorr Secka on behalf of Lang Tombong Tamba, the hiring of vehicles to transport the 300 mercenaries from Guinea Bissau to launch an attack on The Gambia for the purpose of over-throwing the democratically Government of The Gambia.

Rui Jabbi's evidence also covered his alleged trip to The Gambia to collect money from Lang Tombong Tamba at his Bijilo residence, his complaint lodged at both State House and the NIA,office about the alleged coup plot, his return to Guinea Bissau and the subsequent arrest and detention in the detention centre of Guinea Bissau as well as the arrival of Gambian investigators  at the detention centre in Guinea Bissau, his interrogation by the said Gambian investigators and their trip to Cachew  Village, where the alleged boat purchased by Gibril Ngorr Secka and Kukoi Samba Sanyang purposely meant to transport arms and ammunitions into the Gambia was.

Rui Jabbi further adduced that he led the Gambian investigators to a restaurant called Samareh Camp, where he alleged to have frequented with Ngorr Secka and Kukoi Samba Sanyang, his subsequent departure with the said investigators back to the Gambia among others.Rui Jabbi, whose evidence under both the evidence-in-chief and cross-examination lasted for almost two weeks, gave a detailed narration about the alleged training of mercenaries at a place called "Bambadinga" in Guinea Bissau, the alleged occasional visits made by Ngorr Secka to the training ground, the exchange of money between Kukoi and Ngorr Secka, his involvement in drug business, especially cocaine and Cannabis both within Africa and beyond with reference to America and the Republic of France.

The third prosecution was Kabiro Saidy, an employee at the Gambian embassy in Guinea Bissau, who also adduced among other things that Ngorr was his friend and that they used go together in Bissau,  especially to a  restaurant called Cachew in Bissau.

Other prosecution witnesses in the three-count criminal charges of treason included Yerro Jallow, Camp commander of the Farafeni military barracks, who also informed the court that he hosted Ebrima Marreh at his house located within the said barracks, his suspicion about the fake identity of the PW1, leading to his subsequent arrest and detention in the barracks; the interrogation of PW1, Ebrima Marreh in the barracks; his handing over of PW1 to the NIA personnel for onward transfer to the NIA head office in Banjul for further interrogation about his mission to the Farafeni Barracks among others.

Lieutenant  General Manneh Kinteh, the current CDS of GAF, also gave his evidence in the trial. His evidence covered the telephone calls he received from the Farafeni Barrcks by the Camp commander about the alleged nation wide tour initiated by the PW1, who claimed to be from the Office of the President; his instruction for the Camp commander to arrest and detain PW1 if he failed to identify himself among others.

An NIA officer (name withheld) informed the court that he was the head of the panel of investigators in the alleged November 2009 coup. His evidence also covered his role as the head of the panel of investigators; the trip he led to Guinea Bissau; their visit to the detention in Guinea Bissau, where Rui Jabbi Gassama was detained; the interrogation of Rui Jabbi; their trip to Cachew, where the alleged boat purchased  for the purpose of transporting arms and ammunition to The Gambia to over-throw the democratically elected Government of The Gambia under President Jammeh; their trip to the Samareh Camp Restaurant and to the Gambian embassy in Guinea Bissau as well as their final return to The Gambia with Rui Jabbi Gassama.

At the end of the prosecution's case, the defence team filed in a 'no case to answer' submission before the court. All the tree defence counsels: Sherrif Tambedou, PC Secka and Hawa Sisay-Sabally, urged the court to discharge the accused persons with terms backed up by citations of different sections in the law of evidence, the criminal code and the criminal procedure code laws of The Gambia as well as other decided cases both within and outside  of The Gambia.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Emmanuel Amadi over-ruled the 'no case to answer submission of the defence. Complying with the decision of the High Court judge, the defence team opened their defence by calling each of the accused to adduce the portion of evidence with respect to the case. Each of the accused gave their evidence but did not call any witness or witnesses to support their case.

The first to give evidence was Lang Tombong Tamba, former CDS of GAF, who denied all the three count criminal charges of treason filed in by the state against him and seven others.Lang Tombong's evidence covered issues such as his role in the GAF as the state guard commander, the CDS of GAF, his role in foiling the 2006 coup plot led by Colonel Ndure Cham, former CDS of GAF; his role in sports- related activities in both the Gambia and beyond, especially in his capacity as the second vice president of the Gambia Football Association; his relationship with each of the accused persons, especially the military personnel.

Tamba refuted allegations made by PW1 and PW2, and explained his relationship with Yousef Ezzedine, whom he described as his close civilian friend since early 1995 to date.Tamba denied conspiracy with any of the accused persons to over-throw the Government of The Gambia under the leadership of President Jammeh, whom he described as  his elder brother and mentor. He adduced that he had no intention to become president of The Gambia.

The former CDS denied sending Ebrima Marreh to Farafeni and paying any money to Rui Jabbi Gassama. According to Tamba, he can only pay money to someone, whom he knows; that he did not know Rui Jabbi much more assigning him to train mercenaries for him.

He gave a detailed account of his experience in the GAF right from his enrolment to the 9th of October when he was removed from the GAF.Omar Bun Mbye, the second accused also gave a  detailed account of his experience in the GAF, his arrest and detention in connection to the alleged November 2009 coup. He explained how on series of occasions he was released by the panel of investigators of the alleged coup plot and his subsequent arrest and detention on the orders made by the DPP Richard Chenge.

BO Badjie also spoke at length about his military experience and his arrest in connection to the alleged coup plot, his encounter with the DPP, interrogation at the NIA and the wrong description given by Rui Jabbi Kassama with regards to the alleged visit made by Rui Jabbi to his (Bo Badjie) house in Talinding, among others.

Kawsu Camara, the fourth accused narrated how he was arrested and detained at the NIA office in Banjul, his operations as the officer responsible the weekly collection of fuel for both the Kanilai Family Farm and the presidential encourage.He gave details of how he came to know PW1, Ebrima Marreh, as a juvenile thief, PW1's ban from going to Kanilai, his harassing of his (Kawsu) wife at a state reception party held in honour of celebrations marking the July 22nd anniversary.

Modou Gaye also denied conspiracy with any of the accused persons. He narrated how he was arrested and detained at the NIA; his confrontation with PW1 at the NIA office in Banjul; his seeing of the PW1 in the office of the ex-IGP, Ensa Badjie, among others.Gibril Ngorr Secka denied being a friend to the PW2 and also denied moving with the PW2 in Guinea Bissau.

According to him, he did not even know Kukoi Samba Sanyang much more having a business with him for the purpose of over-throwing the democratically elected government of The Gambia.Ngorr said that he never conspired with any of the accused to overthrow the government of The Gambia and had no idea about a coup, as alleged by PW1 and PW2.

Abdoulie Joof also denied conspiracy with anyone to over-throw the government of The Gambia. According to him, he has no interest in over-throwing the government of The Gambia.Joof explained in detailed his love and support for the APRC party and the recognition given to him by the president of The republic.

The seventh accused person, denied knowing both the PW1 and PW2, saying he has never seen them in his life. He adduced that he came to know Lang Tombong Tamba in 1995, when Lang Tombong wanted to clear his car from the GPA, where he (Lie Joof) was  working as a clearing agent. He also denied allegation that he attended meetings at the residence of Lang Tombong Tamba for the purpose of a coup plot.

Yousef Ezzedine, the eight accused denied conspiracy to over-throw the government of The Gambia. He narrated his contact with security personnel in The Gambia and his  arrival in the country from the Republic of Liberia.He also singled out his business operations in The Gambia from a slippers factory, textile business and the subsequent allocation of land to him by the Government of The Gambia, where he transferred his One Plus One business shop to the Senegambia highway, near the Traffic Light on Kairaba Avenue.

Yousef Ezzedine's evidence covered his early relationship with Lang Tombong Tamba, the football games they used play together and the occasional lunch they had together. The Lebanese-Gambian produced an award given to him by the Gambian leader in recognition of his support towards the development of the country, especially the GAF.The presiding judge after hearing from both parties set the judgement to today, Thursday, 15th of July 2010, at 10:00am.