The eleven charges against  William John Joof, former permanent secretary at the Department of Sate for Foreign Affairs, have now been reduced to eight counts. This  drama followed an objection made by Lawyer Lamin Camara, counsel for the accused, on ten out of the eleven counts that the accused was formerly charged with.

However, the twist in the legal tussle came after Emmanuel Fagbenle,  director of public prosecution, last Friday, informed the Banjul Magistrates Court presided over by Magistrate Kayode Olajubutu that he has reduced the charges against the accused to eight counts on official corruption, abuse of office and theft. He conceded to the fact that the initial charges were incorrect.

The case could not continue when it  was mentioned on Thursday as the DPP was said to have been engaged at the High Court and it was adjourned to January 14, 2008, for hearing.