By: Nicholas Bass
The lawyer for the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Modou M. Drammeh, on Thursday affirmed to the Banjul High Court that a significant progress has been made for an out-court settlement in the D50M lawsuit that his client instituted against journalist Kebba Ansu Manneh.
Drammeh on Thursday informed the Banjul High Court annex, presided over by Justice Sohia, that significant steps have been taken for an out-court settlement, adding that if given a shorter adjournment date, they would “tidy up”.
”Parties have made significant steps, but we seek a short date[for adjournment] to tidy up,” he added.
In his reply, defense Lawyer Junkung Jobarteh concurred with lawyer Drammeh.
At that juncture, the presiding judge said:” In the interest of justice, this case is adjourned to 14 January 2025, at 9:30 am for further report and settlement.”
Environment minister Rohey John Manjang has, through her lawyer, filed a civil suit against journalist Kebba Ansu Manneh, seeking an order from the court for Manneh to pay D50M to her as special damages, D500,000 as administrative costs, a perpetual injunction from the court, restraining Manneh, his agents, associates and contacts from making any further “defamatory” statement against her.
Minister Manjang is also seeking an order from the court for journalist Manneh to issue an apology via the website of the US-based online media, The Alkamba Times (TAT) and any other public platform that was used to “defame” her. She made other claims.
According to lawyer Drammeh’s statement of claim filed before the Banjul High Court, on 22 May 2024, Rohey John Manjang’s bodyguard [orderly] received a telephone call from the deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Bubacarr Zaidi Jallow, who informed him that the Lower River Region’s regional forestry officer Lamin Bajo had asked for minister Manjang to phone him back.
Defense lawyer Drammeh in his statement of claim said when Manjang phoned Lamin Bajo, he informed her that he had confiscated two timber logs that were illegally felled by some individuals from Kaif village in Kiang East district. Drammeh added that one Lamin Bajo informed his client that the Lower River Region Governor, Seedy Lamin Bah, told him that Minister Manjang instructed for the said logs to be transported to the governor’s office.
In paragraph 6 of the statement of claim, defense lawyer Drammeh also stated that his client dismissed the allegations and instructed Lamin Bajo to ensure that the said logs were not moved or brought by anyone.
