Lawyer Lamin J. Darboe Urges Public to Respect Judiciary After Ousainou Bojang Acquittal

Lamin J. Darboe, Lead counsel for Ousainou Bojang’s defense team

By Fatou Sillah

Lawyer Lamin J. Darboe, party leader and secretary general of the National Unity Party and lead counsel in the Ousainou Bojang trial, has called on Gambians to respect the judiciary and refrain from insulting judges in discussions about the case. In an interview with Kerr Fatou, he emphasized the importance of understanding legal proceedings before commenting publicly.

“What I want to tell citizens is to follow the law and respect it. Stop calling judges names or insulting them, especially when many have not even read a single page of the case and don’t know what actually happened,” he said.

Darboe stressed that the case should be analyzed within a legal framework rather than through a political lens.

“Anyone who looks at Ousainou’s case objectively will see that the judgment was proper. Politically, some might argue it’s unfavorable for the president, but in reality, it shows that the law applies to everyone and that no one is above it,” he noted.

He added that leadership is temporary and partisanship should not override national interest.

“No president can remain in power indefinitely. Whether you like it or not, leaders leave office, and that’s how the country should be viewed. Political parties do not own the country,” he said.

Darboe also highlighted the importance of electing competent leaders, cautioning that the presidency is a powerful office that can significantly affect the nation.

“We must carefully consider who we place in the State House. The presidency is not a joke; a president has the power to shape or destroy the country,” he said.