Ousainou Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party, has accused the government of undermining the rule of law following the acquittal and subsequent rearrest of Ousainou Bojang and his sister.
In a national address, Darboe said the High Court’s decision to acquit the Bojang siblings demonstrated judicial independence, but criticised the executive’s actions after the ruling.
“The government is expected to honour and respect court orders,” he said, warning that failure to do so risks returning the country to past practices where court decisions were ignored.
He argued that the rearrest of the siblings after their acquittal amounted to a disregard for the authority of the court, stressing that judgments take immediate effect unless set aside by a higher court.
He also alleged that the case had been used to politically target his United Democratic Party (UDP), claiming earlier attempts were made to link the party to the killing of two police officers in 2023.
“The criminal justice system should not be used to witch-hunt political opponents,” he said, adding that no evidence presented in court implicated the UDP or its members.
He called on the government to conduct fresh and proper investigations into the killings of the officers, warning that a future administration would revisit the case if necessary.
Mr Darboe further raised concerns over the handling of protests linked to the case, citing reports of civilians injured during crowd control operations, including an elderly man allegedly struck by a canister.
He urged authorities to avoid actions that could escalate tensions and called for adherence to legal processes rather than what he described as “self-help”.
Despite his criticism, Darboe praised the trial judge for what he called a courageous and independent ruling, saying it reflected the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the rule of law.
About the Author
