Culled From The Point
Wednesday, November 28
NIA Boss Ordered To Produce Mbye..

The director-general of the National Intelligence Agency, Kebba Ceesay, has
been ordered by the High Court to produce Alhagie Mbye, a reporter with the
Independent newspaper who was picked up last Wednesday, allegedly by
officers of the NIA. The court order follows a habeas corpus application
filed in the high court by Mbye’s Managing Editor, Alagi Yerro Jallow, who
asked the high court to order the NIA to produce Alhagie Mbye.

The habeas corpus application was heard in court yesterday, with high court
judge Justice A.O. Belgore granting the application. Justice Belgore, after
hearing legal the argument advanced by lawyer Borry Touray who held brief
for attorney Amie Bensouda, ruled that NIA DG Kebba Ceesay should produce
reporter Alhagie Mbye before Thursday, November 29.

It could be recalled that the court order follows a series of moves made by
Yerro Jallow, another journalist in the media circle, who tried to have
access to the detained journalist, but was prevented by the NIA. “We don’t
allow visitors here on Mondays. If you want to see any of our bosses you
must call them on their mobile phones. Okay,” said a janitor at the NIA
offices in Banjul who told journalists that it was not possible to have
access to the NIA premises on Mondays. In an other development reports
reaching The Point say moves were underway to serve the court order to the
NIA Director- General. Both the NIA boss and the Attorney- General’s
department were sued to produce reporter Alhagie Mbye.

Up to press time Mbye was not released from custody. His detention,
according to sources, was linked to a recent story he filed to the London-
based West Africa Magazine in which he reported that thousands of
non-Gambians allegedly voted in the just concluded presidential election.

Related Article From The Point

I’m Worried About Alhaji’s Health - Independent ME

The continued detention of reporter Alhajie Mbye allegedly by the NIA has
prompted the Managing Editor of the Independent Newspaper, Alagi Yerro, to
express concern over Mbye’s health condition. Speaking to this paper shortly
after a court order which requires the NIA Director General Kebba Cessay to
produce the detained reporter. Managing Editor Jallow said, “I am very
worried about Alhajie Mbye’s health condition. Prior to his arrest he was
sick for the past two weeks suffering from malaria and other related
illnesses.” Yerro Jallow told The Point the he didn’t expect Mbye to receive
proper treatment at the NIA, pointing out that during his last arrest in
August Mbye experienced poor health after spending three days at the NIA. “I
took him to visit a doctor for medical check up, following his release. He
was suffering from stress, stomachache and malaria. So this time for having
spent for more than three days in custody, knowing his condition of health,
it is very worrying,” Mr. Jallow remarked. The habeas corpus case filed by
The Independent and the GPU led to the court’s order for Mbye to be produced
before the court tomorrow, the 29th of November.




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