23 Accused Insist They Attended All Hearings, Question Police Bench Warrant Bid

Accused Persons in court on 11th February 2026

By 23 Accused Persons issued 11th February 2026

It is public knowledge that the Magistrate assigned to our case is deceased and that the 23 accused persons have attended all scheduled court hearings communicated in court and through formal channels.

Instead of communicating with counsel for the accused, the police prosecutor chose to apply for the accused to be remanded at Mile II. This demonstrates malicious intent on the part of the Gambia Police Prosecutor, who had previously attempted to keep another accused person—former Security Officer Abdoulie Sanyang, who was physically incapacitated—remanded at Mile II.

In our specific case, the matter was last scheduled to be heard on 3rd November 2025; however, it was adjourned to 8th December 2025 because Magistrate Faud Touray was unwell. This was the second adjournment. Unfortunately, Magistrate Faud Touray was reported deceased less than a week ago.

We extend our sincere condolences to his relatives, loved ones, the judiciary, and his colleagues.

Since 8th December 2025, when the accused attended court for the adjourned proceeding—which was again adjourned—no new date has been communicated for the next hearing. Following the news of Magistrate Faud Touray’s passing, our lawyers have been awaiting the reassignment of the case to another magistrate.

A police news report issued on 9th February 2026 stated that on 3rd February 2026 our matter was heard in court and adjourned due to our absence, including that of our counsel. The statement further indicated that the prosecution applied for a bench warrant for non-appearance. In response, the magistrate reportedly “granted a final opportunity for [the accused’s] appearance and ruled that, should they fail to attend at the next sitting, the application for a warrant may be reconsidered.”

These actions by the police demonstrate that they are not in pursuit of justice but rather in pursuit of incarcerating 23 young, lawful protesters.

The actions of the police further demonstrate malicious intent to incarcerate 23 patriotic young advocates whose only alleged offence is lawfully petitioning the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to rescind the price floor and introduce a price ceiling.

This underscores the police prosecutor’s disregard for the rule of law and a determination to criminalise young Gambians who have been vindicated by the very authorities they petitioned, acting in the interest of the Gambian people at large.

At every hearing for which our lawyers have been notified—both in court and through official communication—the accused and their legal counsel have been present and arrived ahead of time, often waiting for the police prosecutor to appear. Given that the hearing allegedly took place on 3rd February, the police prosecutor waited until 9th February to issue a statement, despite it being public knowledge that the assigned magistrate is deceased.

Counsel for the accused visited the principal magistrate today at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court for clarification and was duly informed that another magistrate has not yet been assigned to hear the case and that this will be communicated once done.

The role of the police is to serve and protect, not to engage in propaganda, assault and incarcerate citizens.

We urge members of the media to contact our lawyers or the leaders of the accused to provide the public with more balanced information on this matter.

As demonstrated repeatedly, even after our collective success in advocating for more affordable data, the police remain intent on incarcerating and tarnishing our image in the public eye. After harassing, assaulting, and detaining our law-abiding advocates, they continue to pursue actions aimed at returning us to Mile II before a magistrate has made any ruling on our case.