Counsel Mboge Withdraws From Bojang Siblings Appeal After Client’s Media Interview

Counsel L.K. Mboge has withdrawn from representing the second respondent, Amie Bojang, in the ongoing appeal before the Court of Appeal after citing her decision to grant a media interview despite his legal advice against doing so while the matter remained before the courts.

The development was disclosed during Monday’s sitting before a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal comprising Justice N. Salla-Wadda, Justice Basiru V.P. Mahoney, and Justice Amina Saho-Ceesay. The withdrawal prompted the court to adjourn the proceedings until 20 October 2026 to allow Amie Bojang sufficient time to engage new legal counsel.

At the commencement of proceedings, the court noted Counsel Mboge’s formal Notice of Withdrawal. Asked whether she had been informed of the development, Amie Bojang confirmed that she received a letter from Mboge’s chambers last week notifying her of his decision.

In the Notice of Withdrawal dated 24 June 2026, Counsel Mboge explained the basis for his decision.

“TAKE NOTICE that I am withdrawing my representation in this case for the 2nd Respondent on the grounds that I advised her not to grant an interview to the media in this case, but she did not heed my advice. To my utter surprise, when I saw her on Kerr Fatou, I had no choice but to file this Notice of Withdrawal to protect my name and my reputation.”

Speaking to Kexx News after the court proceedings, Counsel Mboge elaborated on the circumstances surrounding his withdrawal.

He said Amie Bojang had initially contacted him regarding an interview with Kerr Fatou, and he expressly advised her not to participate because the matter was still pending before the court. According to Mboge, she assured him that she would not grant the interview. However, he later discovered that the interview had been published online.

He said that once his client failed to follow his legal advice, he concluded that he could no longer continue representing her and therefore withdrew from the case.

In the interest of ensuring a fair hearing, Justice Salla-Wadda asked Amie Bojang how much time she would require to obtain new legal representation. She requested one month.

State Counsel A. Gibba, who appeared alongside Counsel F. Touray for the appellant, the State, was asked whether he had been served with the Notice of Withdrawal. He informed the court that he had not received it, prompting the panel to direct that a copy be served on the State.

The Court of Appeal observed that the matter had been scheduled for hearing to allow Counsel Mboge to present his reply on points of law following the Notice of Preliminary Objection he argued at the previous sitting on 15 June 2026. However, in light of his withdrawal and the need for the second respondent to secure new counsel, the court adjourned the proceedings.

The appeal stems from the High Court judgment delivered by Justice Jaiteh on 30 March 2026, in which both Ousainou Bojang and Amie Bojang were acquitted and discharged.

The State filed its Notice of Appeal on 31 March 2026 and subsequently lodged an Amended Notice of Appeal containing seventeen grounds on 29 April 2026, together with a motion seeking leave to regularise the filing.

During the previous hearing on 15 June 2026, Counsel Mboge raised a Notice of Preliminary Objection challenging the competence of the State’s appeal. He argued that the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction to entertain both the appeal and the State’s motion.

Mboge contended that the State failed to exhibit a copy of the judgment being appealed and did not obtain leave from either the High Court or the Court of Appeal before filing the appeal. He argued that these were mandatory procedural requirements that ought to have been satisfied before the appeal could properly be instituted.

At that sitting, the Court of Appeal granted the State seven days to file its response to the preliminary objection, with Counsel Mboge given an additional three days to file his reply. That reply was expected to be heard at Tuesday’s sitting, but did not proceed following his withdrawal from the matter.

Counsel L.J. Darboe continues to represent the first respondent, Ousainou Bojang.

The matter has been adjourned to 20 October 2026 before the same panel of the Court of Appeal.