A murder suspect who escaped from prison five years ago while awaiting trial has finally appeared before the High Court in Banjul.

Buba Drammeh is charged with the fatal shooting of Buba Jammeh during a violent land dispute between residents of Gunjur and Berending in 2020. He was arrested in Senegal in April after years on the run and extradited to The Gambia.

Appearing in court on Wednesday, Drammeh said he had no legal representation, claiming he had been held in solitary confinement at Mile Two prison since his arrest, with no access to family or legal aid.

Prison authorities confirmed his isolation due to his prior escape, noting that prisoner communication has been hampered since the departure of the NGO Justice Defenders. Inmates now depend on prison officers to make calls on their behalf using personal resources.

Presiding judge Justice Ebrima Jaiteh expressed concern over Drammeh’s lack of access to legal counsel and ordered prison officials to facilitate contact with his family or a lawyer. If unrepresented at the next hearing, the court will appoint counsel through the National Agency for Legal Aid (NALA).

The case was adjourned to 19 June for the formal taking of Drammeh’s plea.

The Gunjur-Berending land dispute, which has long simmered with tension and violence, drew national attention after Jammeh’s killing.