January 13, 2009
By Gambia Parrot
Former Chairman of the Anti -Corruption Commission in The Gambia, Justice Paul Maduabuchi, a Nigerian has resigned his appointment as a judge of the Court of Appeal in that country , following persistent threat to his life, including attempts to kidnap his son.
According to his letter of resignation, copy of which was made available to this reporter, through a source close to the Nigerian, indicated that since his appointments he made extreme efforts to eradicate certain apparently endemic evils, which were prevalent in the judiciary and the society at large.
In the said letter, the judge noted that he served with great enthusiasm and singular courage, without fear, favor, ill will or affection, according to the oath which he subscribed upon appointment.
Even his detractors he pointed out would admit that the truth that his court was easily the most preferred by lawyers and parties alike, following their confidence that scale of justice would weigh in their favour, stressing that even lawyers and parties who lose their cases go home satisfied that justice has been done.
This, he said explains why his judgments are hardly the subject of appeals, pointing out that he is not only convinced beyond reasonable doubts that his efforts were worthwhile, but added that, he did not regret the enthusiasm, which led him to strive night and day to restore to the judiciary the prestige that it had lost, because o the unfortunate wavering of some of his colleagues who where either timorous or have reduced the office of a judge to one to ventilate political sentiments or aggrandizement
“ As chair o0f the Anti-Corruption Commission, I was sure that our decisions would ruffle many feathers. I was under no illusion about the fact that a meaningful Anti-Corruption work is like a blood sport, and without doubt the most dangerous work to do on the African continent and the world over”
Justice Paul as he is fondly referred to. Noted that he was aware that in the process of performing his responsibilities, he would undoubtedly confront and surmount a powerful force of elite conspiracy, with all its well -lubricated propaganda machinery, adding that he can not obfuscate the fact that the Gambia elites constitute a veritable obstacle to many well meaning social reform efforts.
Not withstanding all these obstacles, the judge said he did not throw up his hands in the sky
And give up in surrender, realizing that it was monumental work of serious national importance, bound to bring an immeasurable dividend to the Gambian people.
He maintained that to the Glory of God, his commission delivered, to the chargrin and disappointment of many who threatened thunder and brimstone, highlighting that he was not oblivious to the many botched attempts, both physically and spiritually to kill, maim or discredit him without basis, during the sittings of the Commission.
“Our findings and adverse recommendations were not without actual and legal basis. Yet . since the conclusion of the I have been the target of everyone for destruction, including my family. I am attacked wherever I go. An attempt was made to kidnap my son from school, no one has interest in our welfare, well being and security. Plots, conspiracies, persecution and hostility are our faithful companions’.
Besides living in fear, the Nigerian born judge noted that he receives constant death threats on a daily basis through the telephone and physically, pointing out that all attempts see President Yahya Jammeh have not been successful to date.
But above all of these, he stressed that he had his doubts as to whether the establishment is aware of what has been going on, noting that he held unto his job and performed all his duties.
The jurist said, surprisingly on Thursday July 5, 2007, he was summoned to the office of the Chief Justice at the behest of the former Gambian Attorney General and secretary o State for Justice, Mr Kebba Sanyang, noting that upon attendance he met Mr Sanyang and the Honourable Chief Justice.
After exchange of usual pleasantries, according to Justice Maduabuchi, Mr Sanyang told him that he held three meetings with the senior members of Gambia Bar Association, including Bar Executives on their grouse against him, pointing out that their resolve is that he should tender an apology to the Bar.
Following his refusal to tender an apology, the Attorney General, he said, started threatening him, over his refusal to apologize to the Gambia Bar Association for imprisoning Senior member of the Bar, Mr Antouman Gaye, which he made abundantly clear to Sanyang that it was not only improper, but impossible for him to apologize to the Bar for a judicial act, the propriety of which the Bar is not willing to subject to the litimus test of an Appeal, because they are convince that his reasoning was impeccable and unassailable.
All these, according to him, informed his resignation, copy of which was forwarded to President Yahya Jammeh.
Former Chairman of the Anti -Corruption Commission in The Gambia, Justice Paul Maduabuchi, a Nigerian has resigned his appointment as a judge of the Court of Appeal in that country , following persistent threat to his life, including attempts to kidnap his son.
According to his letter of resignation, copy of which was made available to this reporter, through a source close to the Nigerian, indicated that since his appointments he made extreme efforts to eradicate certain apparently endemic evils, which were prevalent in the judiciary and the society at large.
In the said letter, the judge noted that he served with great enthusiasm and singular courage, without fear, favor, ill will or affection, according to the oath which he subscribed upon appointment.
Even his detractors he pointed out would admit that the truth that his court was easily the most preferred by lawyers and parties alike, following their confidence that scale of justice would weigh in their favour, stressing that even lawyers and parties who lose their cases go home satisfied that justice has been done.
This, he said explains why his judgments are hardly the subject of appeals, pointing out that he is not only convinced beyond reasonable doubts that his efforts were worthwhile, but added that, he did not regret the enthusiasm, which led him to strive night and day to restore to the judiciary the prestige that it had lost, because o the unfortunate wavering of some of his colleagues who where either timorous or have reduced the office of a judge to one to ventilate political sentiments or aggrandizement
“ As chair o0f the Anti-Corruption Commission, I was sure that our decisions would ruffle many feathers. I was under no illusion about the fact that a meaningful Anti-Corruption work is like a blood sport, and without doubt the most dangerous work to do on the African continent and the world over”
Justice Paul as he is fondly referred to. Noted that he was aware that in the process of performing his responsibilities, he would undoubtedly confront and surmount a powerful force of elite conspiracy, with all its well -lubricated propaganda machinery, adding that he can not obfuscate the fact that the Gambia elites constitute a veritable obstacle to many well meaning social reform efforts.
Not withstanding all these obstacles, the judge said he did not throw up his hands in the sky
And give up in surrender, realizing that it was monumental work of serious national importance, bound to bring an immeasurable dividend to the Gambian people.
He maintained that to the Glory of God, his commission delivered, to the chargrin and disappointment of many who threatened thunder and brimstone, highlighting that he was not oblivious to the many botched attempts, both physically and spiritually to kill, maim or discredit him without basis, during the sittings of the Commission.
“Our findings and adverse recommendations were not without actual and legal basis. Yet . since the conclusion of the I have been the target of everyone for destruction, including my family. I am attacked wherever I go. An attempt was made to kidnap my son from school, no one has interest in our welfare, well being and security. Plots, conspiracies, persecution and hostility are our faithful companions’.
Besides living in fear, the Nigerian born judge noted that he receives constant death threats on a daily basis through the telephone and physically, pointing out that all attempts see President Yahya Jammeh have not been successful to date.
But above all of these, he stressed that he had his doubts as to whether the establishment is aware of what has been going on, noting that he held unto his job and performed all his duties.
The jurist said, surprisingly on Thursday July 5, 2007, he was summoned to the office of the Chief Justice at the behest of the former Gambian Attorney General and secretary o State for Justice, Mr Kebba Sanyang, noting that upon attendance he met Mr Sanyang and the Honourable Chief Justice.
After exchange of usual pleasantries, according to Justice Maduabuchi, Mr Sanyang told him that he held three meetings with the senior members of Gambia Bar Association, including Bar Executives on their grouse against him, pointing out that their resolve is that he should tender an apology to the Bar.
Following his refusal to tender an apology, the Attorney General, he said, started threatening him, over his refusal to apologize to the Gambia Bar Association for imprisoning Senior member of the Bar, Mr Antouman Gaye, which he made abundantly clear to Sanyang that it was not only improper, but impossible for him to apologize to the Bar for a judicial act, the propriety of which the Bar is not willing to subject to the litimus test of an Appeal, because they are convince that his reasoning was impeccable and unassailable.
All these, according to him, informed his resignation, copy of which was forwarded to President Yahya Jammeh.
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