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High Court orders NALA to provide lawyer for man charged with killing UTG graduate assistant
By Mama A. Touray
Justice Sidiki K. Jobarteh of the Banjul High Court has ordered the state, through the National Agency for Legal Aid (NALA), to provide legal representation for Mamadou Bah, who is charged with the murder of University of The Gambia graduate assistant Yunusa Mbaye.
When asked if he had legal counsel, Bah replied: “I have no lawyer”. Justice Jobarteh then directed NALA to supply a lawyer, saying: “The Accused is charged with murder, which is a Capital Offence. Since he cannot secure the services of Counsel, the State is to provide him with Legal Representation. By a copy of this Order, the Executive Secretary of National Agency for Legal Aid is directed to provide Legal Representation for the Accused on the next”.
The case was adjourned to Thursday, 9 June 2026 at 12:00 noon for plea taking and the commencement of the hearing.
According to the charge sheet, Bah is accused of one count of murder. The particulars allege that on or about 15 June 2026 at Fajara, with malice aforethought, he caused the death of Yunusa Mbaye by stabbing him in the neck with a broken bottle.
Bah was first arraigned before Magistrate Sallah at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court last Monday and remanded to Mile Two Central Prison; the magistrate transferred the matter to the High Court for lack of jurisdiction
One thought on “High Court orders NALA to provide lawyer for man charged with killing UTG graduate assistant”
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Many people have condemned this man and denounced the appointment of vouncil for him as a waste of public funds. Trials must be fair. For one side (the prosecution) to have trained, experienced attorneys and the other side to have none is not fair.
A fight between a lion and an unarmed man is not a fair fight.
In the US, this principle was established in 1963 in a famius legal case.
Let him be represented. Let him be tried in a proper court of law. Let it be fair and impartial.
No lynchings in The Gambia.