Juwara's Legal Nightmares Escalate

Lamin Waa Juwara was a firebrand opposition figure!

The Gambia’s former Land Minister’s legal nightmares have continued to add up. Lamin Waa Juwara was last week arraigned before Magistrate Jobarteh of Brikama. He was charged with abuse of office.

Mr. Juwara denied the charge proffered against him. He was granted bail in the sum of D500, 000 with two Gambian sureties.

Court records stated that the former Lands and Minister abused the authority of his office in 2012, when he created Sinchu Gidom as a village and appointed one Bubcarr Sillah as an alkalo (head of the village). Mr. Juwara’s action, according to the charge sheet, was prejudicial to the alkalo and elders of Jamburr village. He was blamed for creating a village within a village.

Lamin Waa Juwara returns to the dock on September 17, 2014.

Mr. Juwara, once firebrand opposition politician during and after the transition from military to civilian rule, defected to the ruling APRC. He was appointed a governor and minister until his removal from office. The man who earned the title of Mbarodi, meaning a lion in Fula language, has since been embroiled in legal battle upon legal battle. He is also facing several charges, including negligence of official duties, at Banjul Magistrate’s Court.

Ends