Gambia: Court remands rights defender

The Kanifing Magistrate Court on March 8, 2010 remanded Edwin Nebolisa Nwakaeme, a local human rights defender and a Director of Programmes of the Banjul-based Africa in Democracy and Good Governance (ADG) in police custody for allegedly “giving false information”.

Nwakaeme declined to enter a plea and was remanded to reappear in court on March 10.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) sources reported that the rights defender was first picked up on February 22 by three plain-clothed policemen drawn from Serekunda.

The activist who is a Nigerian and based in the Gambia was later transferred to New Jeshwang Immigration Post and detained until February 25 when he was released without charge.

The sources said Nwakaeme was again invited on March 1 and was unlawfully detained at the Serious Crime unit of the Gambian police headquarters for eight days, far in excess of the 72 hours stipulated under the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia.

Prof Kwame Karikari                                       
Tel 233-21 242470
Fax 233 -21 221084
Email: mfwa@africaonline.com.ghThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ,alerts@mediafound.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.mediafound.org

-March 10, 2010 by MFWA

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Source: www.mediafound.org/index.php   (accessed 10.03.10)