MP for Kiang West Fakebba Colley has been laid to rest in Nema Kunku after lying in state at the National Assembly. 

Colley died last Saturday at his home following a brief illness. 

In a sombre ceremony at the National Assembly complex in Banjul, family members, friends and loved ones, members of parliaments, government officials, United Democratic Party (UDP) officials line up to pay their last respect to the fallen lawmaker.

His coffin was draped in the Gambia national flag.  

In his eulogy, leader of the UDP Ousainou Darboe said: “Fakebba Colley was an accomplished person. [He] was a man of integrity, sincere to what he does. He is loyal to his conscience. 

“I won’t talk about him in the past, I would always speak of him in the present. He is committed to his nation and his loyalty to the United Democratic Party is unquestionable.

“In every capacity he served in the party, he worked hard. He was selfless in the pursuit of the objectives of the party and had an excellent team spirit,” he added.

Meanwhile President Adama Barrow described the late FaKebba Colley as a “humble and committed person to democracy and freedom”. 

A senior member of the opposition United Democratic Party, Colley was at the forefront in the fight against the Jammeh dictatorship. 

In 2016 he and the UDP executive including party leader Ousainou Darboe were jailed after staging a protest to demand the body of late Solo Sandeng who had died in state custody. 

Colley is survived by nine children. 

Reporting by Adama Makasuba