The Supreme Court in Banjul today adjourned the election fraud case brought by the United Democratic Party against President-elect Adama Barrow’s National People’s Party and the Independent Electoral Commission to Tuesday at 10am.

Opposition United Democratic Party has now amended their election petition to  sue both the ruling National People’s Party and the Independent Electoral Commission.

The case was today presided over by a five-member panel of judges headed by Chief Justice Hassan B Jallow.

Lead attorney for United Democratic Party Bory S Touray quikly filed in an expertè application.

But the Chief Justice Hassan B Jallow told him the court has a case.

Sheriff M Tambadou, the lead attorney of Barrow’s National People’s Party told the court that: “We were served with the amended petition this morning together with the order of this court obtain expertè. We wish to advise ourselves on the expertè order.”

He cited rule 22 governing election petition that requires every application of election petition must be on notice particularly on amendment, adding “we need to take the necessary step.”

Lawyer Tambadou suggested for the arguments for both the motion and petition to be taken together, but Chief Justice Jallow turned him down. 

But Bory S Touray replied that: “the proceeding as we stand is in the hands of the court.”

The lead attorney of the Independent Electoral Commission Kebba Sanyang also told the court he intends to raise a preliminary objection in the case, adding

that they didn’t receive UDP’s amended petition.

Chief Justice Hassan B Jallow said: “we are giving you (parties) untill 22 December to file your respond to the petition. We are in possession of a motion seeking dismissal of this case on constitutional ground.”

Justice Jallow took time to urge the parties in the suit to work towards the expeditious hearing and determination of the suit. He added that the matter is of public interest.

The Chief Justice invited all parties in the case to the chambers on Monday, 20 of December 2021 for “Status Conference” to set timeline for the expeditious hearing of the case.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba