The legal battle over the controversial dismissal of two senior University of The Gambia (UTG) lecturers returns to court next week, with Dr Alieu Gibba and Professor Matarr Njie due to appear before the Banjul High Court Annex on February 2 at 9:30am.

The case, which has dragged on for months, stems from UTG’s decision in 2024 to terminate the appointments of the two academics, a move that triggered outrage among sections of the academic community and reignited debate about academic freedom and due process at the country’s only public university.

Dr Gibba and Prof Njie, both well-known figures in Gambian academia, were dismissed following internal disciplinary processes that university management said were conducted in line with institutional regulations.

However, the two lecturers strongly dispute that claim, insisting their sackings were unlawful and procedurally flawed.

Through their lawyers, the pair argue that UTG failed to follow established disciplinary rules, denied them a fair hearing, and acted in a manner that violated both university statutes and labour laws.

They are asking the court to overturn their dismissals, reinstate them to their positions, and award damages for what they describe as wrongful termination.

UTG, on the other hand, has maintained that the dismissals were justified and lawful, arguing that management acted within its powers and in the best interests of the institution.

The dispute has resonated far beyond the courtroom. Lecturers’ unions, civil society groups and student activists have closely followed the case, seeing it as a critical test of governance, staff rights and freedom of expression within higher education in The Gambia.

Monday’s hearing at the High Court Annex, next to the Police Headquarters in Banjul, is expected to mark another key moment in the proceedings as both sides continue to press their arguments before the court.

As the case resumes, attention remains firmly fixed on whether the judiciary will side with university management or uphold the lecturers’ challenge — a decision that could have far-reaching implications for how disciplinary matters are handled at UTG in the future.

By Adama Makasuba