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ECOWAS Court Clears Wrongly Accused Nigerian-born Former Chief Justice Of Gambia

Published

7 years ago

March 7, 2019

Editor

Justice Joseph Wowo, the Nigerian lawyer, who by dint of hardwork and brilliance, rose to the enviable position of the Chief Justice of The Gambia, until he was pushed out, can now heave a sigh of relief.

Accused of corruption by some Gambians who obviously couldn’t stand a foreigner overseeing the third arm of their government, the ECOWAS Court of Justice, where he took the matter to for adjudication, has not only exonerated him of all the cooked-up allegations, but also awarded $200,000 damages in his favour.

Wowo, it would be recalled, joined The Gambian judiciary in 2000. His uncanny brilliance and divine favour, in 2003, pushed him to the exalted position of the country’s CJ. Being a non-Gambian, new friends and enemies were made in almost equal proportions.

Members of the Gambia Bar Association, expectedly, dominated the latter group. With the arrowheads being Ms Ubna Farage, who was then the President of the Gambia Bar Association and Ms Amie Joof, the Minister of Justice.

The allegations levelled against Justice Wowo were not properly looked into before he was unceremoniously removed from office by the then President Yahaya Jammeh. Alarmed, he contested his removal first via the Security Authority, which later initiated another investigation into the matter. At the end of their investigation, no announcement was made with regards to their findings. And this led to Justice Joseph Wowo calling a press conference to put the records straight.

President Yahaya Jammeh saw Justice Wowo’s action as an affront, and decided that he should be put away for a long time. Hence, the shocking charade of a trial that culminated in his incarceration.

The world cried out against this travesty of justice. Eventually, he was granted State Pardon. But not satisfied with the State Pardon, and in a bid to also clear his name permanently, Justice Wowo approached the ECOWAS Court of Justice, sitting in Abuja, Nigeria, in a Suit – JUSTICE JOSEPH WOWO VS THE GAMBIA and with No: ECW/CCJ/APP/06/18, seeking several reliefs.

After painstakingly listening to both parties, and with Judgment No: ECW/CCJ/JUD/09/19, delivered on February 27, 2019, the three Justices, comprising the Hon. Justice Edward Amaoko Asante (Presiding), Hon. Justice Gberi-Be Quattara (Member) and Hon. Justice Keikura Bangura (Member), held as follows:

a) That Justice Emmanuel Nkea who found Justice Joseph Wowo guilty in The Gambia was undergoing a corruption hearing before the same Justice Joseph Wowo and therefore was biased, which resulted in the violation of his human rights and fair trial.

b) That the procedures for the removal of the Chief Justice of The Gambia as stated in the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia, with respect to a tribunal conducting an independent investigation, sending the outcome to the National Assembly, who will then, by a two-third vote, remove the Chief Justice, were not complied with.

c) That the Hon. Justice Joseph Wowo has been cleared of any stigma and cannot now be described as an ex-convict.

d) Award of nominal damages of the sum of U.S.D $150,000.00 to Justice Joseph Wowo for the violation of his rights to fair hearing and unjust incarceration.

e) Payment of Attorney’s fees of U.S.D. $50,000.00 and other costs to be assessed as a result of the application.

Related Topics:Gambia Justice Yahya Jammeh

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Headline

Supreme Court Fixes April 22 for Hearing in ADC Leadership Crisis

Published

3 days ago

April 14, 2026

Eric

The Supreme Court has scheduled hearing for April 22 in the appeal filed by the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, in relation to the leadership dispute in the party.

Mark’s appeal is against the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed his appeal against the September 4, 2025 ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja refusing to grant some injunctive reliefs contained in an ex-parte application filed by a chieftain of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe.

A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba chose the date on Tuesday after granting accelerated hearing in the appeal marked: SC/CV/180/2026.

The court ordered Mark’s lawyer, Jibril Okutepa (SAN) to file the appellant’s brief and serve on Wednesday.

It ordered the respondents to each file and serve on the appellant, a respondent’s brief within three days of being served with the appellant’s brief.

The appellant, according to the court, is to file a reply brief, if needs be, within one day of being served with the respondents’ briefs.

Headline

Amid Denials, ADC Reportedly Secures Rainbow Event Centre As Venue for National Convention

Published

4 days ago

April 13, 2026

Eric

Baring any last minute change, the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as National chairman and National Secretary respectively will hold the party’s National convention at the National Rainbow Event Centre in Garki on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has being denied two venues without any cogent reasons despite early arrangements, according to sources.

First, it was alleged that the Abuja Transcorp Hilton Hotels, which was initially approached, turned down the ADC request to use it’s facility.

The ADC, having sensed sabotage, has kept the Rainbow Event Center under rap as it’s definite venue.

The last National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party was held at the same venue.

Located adjacent the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters, the event centre will host the second NEC meeting of the ADC and it’s forthcoming national convention.

According to The Guardian’ report, the ADC leadership has communicated the venue to state chapters with the caveat not to escalate it.

The ADC is in a battle of survival against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and has approached the Supreme Court for intervention.

The INEC national chairman Prof Joash Amupitan has suspended recognition of the David Mark-led ADC rendering a leadership vacuum in the party.

INEC said it’s decision was on the basis of an Appeal Court pronouncement that ordered statusquo ante-bellum be maintained.

Reports say that why the venue is being quietly decorated moderately for the event, the ADC intends to fully move in the early hours of Tuesday.

The Guardian

Headline

Shettima Lacks Respect, I Won’t Engage Him, Atiku Responds to VP’s Challenge

Published

4 days ago

April 13, 2026

Eric

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has hit back at incumbent Vice President Kashim Shettima over the latter’s poser over achievements in office, saying he won’t take the challenge because Shettima was disrespectful.

Shettima had reportedly challenged Atiku to provide details of eight projects he executed for the development of Northern Nigeria during his tenure as vice president for eight years, as well as name eight individuals he empowered while in office.

But, speaking in an interview with GTA Hausa podcast, Atiku said he would not engage the vice president on the matter.

“I will not respond to Kashim Shettima because he is disrespectful. I am older than him and I have more experience in governance than he does, so I will not respond to him,” he said.

The former vice president further argued that cultural values in Northern Nigeria discourage younger individuals from publicly challenging their elders in such a manner.

“It is not part of our tradition in the North to disrespect elders. You cannot look at someone who is above you in both age and accomplishments and start taunting him. That is not our tradition, so I won’t engage with him,” Atiku emphasised.