By Landing Ceesay
The Court of Appeal of the Gambia has adjourned to Tuesday, Yankuba Touray’s Appeal Case for the adoption of the briefs filed by both the Appellant’s (Yankuba Touray) Lawyer and the Respondent (The State Lawyer).
Today’s (Monday) hearing was supposed to be the adoption of the briefs filed by both parties; but the Senior State counsel, Muhammad B. Sowe filed his brief of argument on 26th August 2022, when the court ordered him to do so, latest 25th August 2022.
Senior State Counsel Sowe said that he had 26th August 2022, as the deadline for the submission of his brief of argument on the records; but Justice Na Ceesay Salla-Wadda, the President of the Gambia’s Court of Appeal referred to her records and confirmed that the deadline was 25th, not 26th August 2022.
She then ordered the Senior State Counsel M. B Sowe to file a motion for an extension of time: as well as serve the Court and the appellant, Yankuba Touray’s Lawyer.
Justice Na Ceesay Salla-Wadda then adjourned the case to 18th October 2022 (Tomorrow) for the adoption of the briefs.
On 14th July 2021, the High Court of the Gambia found former Junta member, Yankuba Touray guilty of the murder of former Finance Minister, Ousman Koro Ceesay, and sentenced him to death by hanging.
Yankuba Touray, also former Minister of Local Government and Lands under the AFPRC government was tried and convicted on a criminal charge of the murder of Ousman Koro, after refusing to testify before the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) on circumstances surrounding Ceesay’s death in 1995 that certain TRRC witnesses alleged took place at Touray’s house.
The said Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission witnesses further alleged that Yankuba participated in the killing of the young man.
Less than a year of his conviction and subsequent sentencing, Touray, on 6th June 2022, appeared in the Court of Appeal challenging the High Court decision.