The Court of Appeal has adjourned the case of The State v. Ousainou Bojang and Amie Bojang to 13 July 2026, after defence counsel raised a preliminary objection challenging the competence of the State’s appeal.

The matter came before a three-member panel comprising Presiding Justice N. Salla-Wadda (PCA), Justice B.V.P. Mahoney (JCA), and Justice A. Saho-Ceesay (JCA).

Counsel L.K. Mboge, representing the second respondent, moved a Notice of Preliminary Objection arguing that the State’s appeal is “incompetent and void,” and therefore strips the court of jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Mboge submitted that the State failed to attach a copy of the judgment being appealed against and further argued that no leave was sought or obtained before filing the appeal, which he described as a mandatory legal requirement.

He also indicated that further grounds of objection may be raised at the hearing of the motion, insisting that the appeal process itself was fundamentally flawed.

The State requested seven days to file written arguments in response to the objection, a request granted by the court. The defence was also given an additional three days thereafter to reply on points of law.

Following the exchange, the panel adjourned the case to 13th July 2026 at 10:00am for continuation of hearing.

The appeal stems from a High Court ruling delivered on 30th March 2026 by Justice Jaiteh, which acquitted and discharged both Ousainou Bojang and Amie Bojang.

The State subsequently filed a Notice of Appeal on 31st March 2026 and later an amended appeal on 29th April 2026 containing 17 grounds, alongside a motion seeking leave to regularise the filing.

At the previous sitting, Counsel Mboge had attempted to raise the objection orally, but the court directed that such issues be filed formally in writing before hearing.

The case is now expected to return in July as arguments over jurisdiction and procedure take centre stage in the high-profile appeal.

By Adama Makasuba