Judge threatens to send State Counsel to Mile 2 Prison
Tension erupted in the Special Criminal Division of the High Court on Wednesday when Justice Ebrima Jaiteh halted proceedings and threatened Senior State Counsel Saikou Lamin Jobarteh with jail for contempt.
The clash began after defence counsel Sheriff M. Tambadou objected while Jobarteh argued against a motion filed for Banta Keita, who was convicted in absentia for aggravated drug trafficking.
Background
In 2022, the State filed an Originating Summons to forfeit Keita’s landed properties and assets.
Tambadou’s notice of motion, dated 24 April 2026, asks the court to grant leave for Keita to file a further affidavit in opposition to the summons and to deem it properly filed. The motion is supported by a 5-paragraph affidavit sworn by legal clerk Mustapha Jammeh.
Courtroom showdown
When the case was called on 6 May 2026, Tambadou moved his motion. He told the court the criminal trial the State relied on in its Originating Summons had concluded with judgment delivered.
Tambadou cited earlier affidavits by Dr. Banshee Montero-Tavares and Dolce Montero-Tavares stating Keita faced trial before Justice Mboob. He said the State’s own affidavit confirmed the trial had ended.
“My Lord, this is an admission of fact. What is admitted needs no further proof. Based on the admission that the trial has been concluded and judgment was delivered, what is the State afraid of?” Tambadou asked.
He urged the court to strike out paragraph 7 of the State’s affidavit, arguing it contained legal arguments in breach of Section 90 of the Evidence Act.
Jobarteh then took the floor to oppose the motion, calling it an abuse of court process. He argued Tambadou had “misconceived” the State’s affidavit.
“We have not opposed the existence of the criminal trial; in fact, we have admitted it,” Jobarteh said. “But the affidavit also raised a broader legal issue that the proceedings constituted an abuse of court process.”
When Tambadou rose to object, Jobarteh refused to yield.
“I am on my feet. Sit down and allow me to raise my objection,” Tambadou said.
“No, it is my time now. When you were presenting I did not interrupt you,” Jobarteh responded.
As both spoke over each other, Justice Jaiteh intervened: “Speak one at a time.”
Jobarteh refused. “My Lord, you are not being fair to me. When he was presenting I did not interrupt him,” he said.
Justice Jaiteh warned Jobarteh: “I am the master of this court and you don’t speak when I speak. Sit down and keep quiet. Here is not a marketplace where everyone speaks at the same time. I can charge you for contempt of court.”
Jobarteh continued: “My Lord, I am an officer of this court and I have the right to speak. When the defence counsel was filing his motion, I did not raise any objections.”
“You did not object because I did my submission correctly and you saw nothing to object to,” Tambadou replied.
After repeated warnings, Justice Jaiteh said: “I think I need to send this Counsel to Mile 2 Prison for disrespecting the court.”
As the judge began writing a citation, Senior Counsel Badou Conteh and Tambadou intervened.
“My Lord, I never begged you for anything, but this one I am begging you. Please don’t write the citation. Please, I beg you in the name of God, don’t send him to Mile 2,” Conteh pleaded.
Both counsel asked for the matter to be settled in chambers. Justice Jaiteh agreed.
“Let us go to the chambers. The normal procedure when counsels are in dispute is to proceed to chambers,” Conteh said.
The judge stood down the matter. All remaining cases were suspended and adjourned.
This is not Jobarteh’s first courtroom dispute. In 2022, during the manslaughter trial of Sainabou Mbye, Cherno Mbye, and Kibili Dambelly, he clashed with Senior Counsel Ida Drammeh and later issued a public apology for derogatory remarks.
Earlier this year, he had a heated exchange with Counsel Kaddijatou Jallow. Last week, he argued with Justice Jaiteh during the trial of former Lands Minister Sheriff Abba Sanyang.
Source: The Point
