Gambian journalists denied entry at the Supreme Court by security agents

Sainey Marenah

Binta Bah

 Journalists working for the Standard and Daily News, two newspapers closed down in September were on Monday denied entry at the Supreme Court in Banjul to cover the case involving former chief of defence staff, Lang Tombong Tamba and six others who are appealing the death sentence verdict handed to them by the High Court. 

Binta Bah and Sainey Marenah from the Daily News and Standard respectively were prevented from attending the court proceeding by plain clothes security officers who claimed the order to stop them had emanated from the Office of the President.

The duo said “we were told by a plain clothes officer (a member of national intelligence agency) that since our media houses are closed – no more publishing - we should not cover the case anymore.”

However, Binta was let in after telling the officer that she was a blogger as well so will use her blog to publish the story.

“I was later let in but after about 15 minutes I was told by the state security agent that the director of press at the State House, Modou Saidy, said he was not aware of my blog because my blog is not registered so I should not cover the case as my paper is no longer publishing” Ms Bah explained.

“The officer said they operate on directives and he is given a directive that we are not allow to cover the case anymore. ‘Sorry but you have to go out, he officer told me’,” Binta added.