Former President Jawara’s Wife Testifies in Court

Njemmeh Jawara

By Ebrima Bah

Madam Njaimeh Jawara, the second wife of former president Dawda K Jawara yesterday testified in the trial involving four Gambia Golf Association (GGA) members and a West Coast radio sports journalist, accused of inciting violence. 

Messrs Lamin Drammeh, Lamin Tamba, Almamy Jagne and Bakary Njie all of GGA and Bakary B Baldeh, a sports journalist of West Coast Radio are facing two charges at Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.

The five men are alleged to have intended ‘to destroy the President Yahya Jammeh’s forty-thousand dollar ($40, 000) sponsored golf tournament’ organized by GGA held in February this year.’

Their indictment also reveals that Lamin Drammeh, Lamin Tamba and Bakary Njie have on February 2011 at Fajara Golf verbally abused Njaimeh Jawara.

Testifying as state witness no.1, Madam Jawara said she was informed by her son, Ebrima Jawara, the GGA president that President Jammeh has sponsored a golf tournament and that she could take part in the competition.

She said she went to the golf coast alongside her son, Ebrima Jawara, but none of the golf caddies was willing to side with them.

She said her son told her that some golf caddies were on a strike and have been to West Coast Radio insulting him.

She claimed that she was molested and insulted by Lamin Drammeh, while she was attempting to reconcile the two.

According to her, as she tried to reconcile Mr Drammeh with his son, the former yelled at his fellow caddies to put down their bags and to boycott the competition.

Madam Jawara added that all the caddies were furious and started provoking her. She is expected to continue her testimony later as she will be traveling to UK for an eye treatment, which will last for six weeks, the court heard.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Tabally stroke-out the third charge which alleges the five men of making statements on West Coast radio that could destroy both Baby Mariam Yahya Jammeh Golf competition and the GGA.

“The fact that the tournament was sponsored by President Yahya Jammeh and named after his daughter does not make it a public matter,” argued Mr Pap Cheyassin Secka, a defense counsel.

The case resumes April 12, 2011.