Essa Faal has sparked fury after mocking University of The Gambia (UTG) graduates for their “poor English.”

The ex-TRRC lead counsel was caught on video ridiculing what he called the “low standards” of the university, claiming its degrees aren’t even recognised in the UK.

“We have a university whose certificates are only valued in The Gambia. If you go to England, they don’t accept them because the standard is low,” he said.

Faal, who once served as a senior prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, went further, saying some graduates can’t even write or speak proper English.

“It’s sad that you’re producing graduates, some of whom cannot even write or speak good English, which is our official language,” he sneered.

But his remarks have sparked outrage online, with UTG graduates lining up to tear him apart.

Journalism lecturer Prince Bubacarr Aminata Sankanu hit back: “I consciously went for an LLB from UTG and I have no regrets. The academic rigour was gratifying.”

Nfally Fadera, a UTG alum who later bagged a master’s in the UK, fumed: “Essa Faal seems to be scoring own goals repeatedly. First the ‘fanatics,’ then the donkey drivers, and now the UTG students. Sir, please leave us alone by a million miles.”

Another graduate, Bubacarr Siddiq Jammeh, accused Faal of arrogance, saying: “He thinks the path to leading people is to constantly brag about his ‘supernatural brilliance’ while making everyone else feel like losers.”

And Saikou Jeng, who also studied in the UK, was even harsher: “Essa Faal has the audacity to belittle those who earned their degrees from UTG? This is the same man who was utterly schooled at the TRRC by Edward Singhateh, a proud UTG graduate.”

Jeng went on: “No more evidence is needed, Essa is drowning in sheer foolery, parading himself as the ‘smartest Gambian’ when in truth he’s achieved nothing beyond defending war criminals.”

He said UTG graduates were already excelling worldwide, in top universities, global institutions, and driving change at home.

And he didn’t hold back: “If Essa can’t succeed in politics, he should go back to his criminal defence games instead of insulting Gambians.”

By Adama Makasuba