Seedy Sk Njie, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, who doubles as the Deputy Spokesperson of the National People’s Party (NPP) has testified in the criminal trial against Musa Sheriff – the proprietor of The Voice Newspaper and Momodou Justice Darboe, a reporter.

Commissioner Abdoulie Sanneh, Deputy Commissioner Malang Jarju and ASP Yaya S. Colley represented the Inspector General of Police (IGP). The two accused persons were represented by Senior Lawyers Lamin J. Darboe and Lamin S. Camara.

The first prosecution witness, Seedy Njie, entered the dock and identified himself through his portfolio and place of residence.

He informed the court that he was responsible for disseminating information to the public on behalf of the NPP. He testified that the only two people mandated by the NPP to disseminate information are two – himself and Lamin Queen Jammeh.

“How do you treat information that didn’t emanate from you or Lamin Queen Jammeh about the NPP party?” Commissioner Sanneh asked

“Such information is regarded as utterly false, speculative and garbage,” Seedy Njie responded.

On what transpired on the 22nd September 2024 leading to his presence in court, Seedy Njie recounted that between the hours of 5-6 pm, he received a call from Musa Sheriff (1st Defendant) that he had hot news on his table that he wants him to verify before going to press whether it is true or false.

According to him, he asked Musa Sheriff what the hot news was, and Musa revealed to him that he had information from two NPP executives that President Barrow had finalised relinquishing the party flagbearer and had chosen Muhammed Jah, CEO of QGroup, as his successor.

Seedy Njie testified that he told Musa Sheriff that he was not granting any interview and requested for him to reveal the names of those NPP executives. He said Musa Sheriff told him the news information was factual information.

He said he maintained his position that he would not grant any interview as far as the matter is concerned, while Musa Sheriff told him that he has been following the issue for the past 9 months.

He added that he interjected and admonished Musa Sheriff to drop the idea of publishing the news to avoid creating disunity and publication of false news.

Njie testified that he declined to grant an interview because he needed to know the names of the sources from the NPP Executives who spoke to Musa. Musa responded that as per journalistic ethics, he cannot reveal his sources to him.

Seedy Njie said he informed Musa Sheriff that President Adama Barrow appeared in the media and told Gambians that he is the flagbearer of the NPP in the forthcoming presidential election.

Seedy Njie testified that Musa Sheriff promised to get back to him, which he never did. He said his dismayed and shocked to see the publication on the following day (23 September) with the caption “President Adama Barrow is working on exit plan and has chosen Businessman Muhammed Jah, as his successor,”

“I was shocked and surprised, and in fact, I was busy in parliament; I had tons of missed calls from NPP members. Everyone was expressing their dismay, disappointment and shock as the matter of flagbearer-ship was never discussed at the executive level,” Seedy Njie testified.

At this stage, Commissioner Sanneh asked the witness whether he would be able to identify the Newspaper if shown to him, and Seedy Njie responded positively. He (Seedy Njie) was shown a newspaper, and he identified it as the newspaper published by Binta Jaiteh.

Commissioner Sanneh applied to tender the Newspaper into evidence, and there was no objection from the defence lawyer Lamin S. Camara.

The presiding Magistrate, Mben Faal, admitted and marked the newspaper ID-1.

“Did you know one Binta Jaiteh?” Commissioner Sanneh asked

“No, I have not known her and never seen her in my entire life,” Seedy Njie replied.

“What was your reaction when you read and saw the article published by Binta Jaiteh on Voice Newspaper?” Commissioner Sanneh asked.

Seedy S.K Njie said he was shocked and surprised that someone could sit down, fabricate and publish a story about his party when he had not been granted an interview with the publisher.

“Is there any meeting to discuss the successor of President Barrow,” Commissioner Sanneh asked.

“The issue of successor and flagbearer-ship was never discussed by NPP executives prior to The Voice Newspaper publication, and the publication has created disunity, pandemonium, confusion and disappointment among the party,” Seedy Njie replied.

“Have the police invited regarding Musa Sheriff’s statement on the matter?” Commissioner Sanneh asked.

“Yes, I have been contracted by the police and also placed a call to Musa Sheriff informing him that I have a Voice Newspaper article published by Binta Jaiteh, and I have never granted an interview with Binta Jaiteh rather, I agreed to have an interview with him at the appropriate time,” Seedy Njie.

Seedy Njie said he called Musa Sheriff after getting a lot of calls and messages regarding the publication and informed him that the publication had caused harm to him and to the personality of the President, and Musa Sheriff promised to apologise on the next day in a formed of “stop press.” Njie said he inquired from Musa what type of stop press, and he replied that it would be like he misquoted him. Seedy Njie said he told Musa that the publication was unethical, and he accepted.

Seedy Njie further testified he declined the offer to write a stop press and insisted that he would write a response to the publication. The Musa Sheriff responded that if he did that, it would put his credibility and the newspaper at stake. While he maintained his position, Musa hung up the phone and called back, but he (Musa) still maintained that if he did that, his credibility and the newspaper would be at stake.

Seedy Njie said until now, the newspaper has not written an apology.

Defence Lawyer Lamin S. Camara cross-examined Seedy Njie. He only tendered the newspaper.

Lawyer Lamin. S. Camara requested exhibit ID 1 (the newspaper) from the court and asked the witness (Seedy Njie) whether that’s the newspaper he identified as the publication; Seedy Njie responded positively.

Counsel Lamin S. Camara applied to tender the newspaper as evidence, there’s no objection from police prosecution.

The presiding Magistrate, Mben Faal, admitted and marked the newspaper into evidence and marked D 1.

The case was adjourned to 10 December 2024 at 10:30 am for the continuation of the cross-examination of Seedy Njie.

Credit & Source By Kexx News