Letter to the Editor: The IEC followed what they think is the law, as we all must!

As the debate over the legality of IEC’s rejection of the Momodou Sabally National Assemby Nomination festers, Dida Jallow-Halake has added his voice to that of Barrister Lamin J Darbo in backing the decision of Election House.

“Sabally does not have a snowball’s chance in hell” of winning in court against the IEC, according to Barrister Lamin J Darbo

In his Letter to the Editor, Mr Jallow-Halake wrote, herein reproduce verbatim:

The IEC followed what they think is the law, as we all must!

Editor,

I don’t know what Mr Melville Roberts Esq. is talking about!

The IEC is NOT “interpreting” the law! They are simply following the law as they understand it to be (that is Lawyer Lamin J Dabo’s point!). All of us follow the law in our daily lives ... as we know or think the law to be. If we are wrong, then the court (which “interprets the law”) tells us we are wrong and holds us accountable.

So, Mr. Melville Roberts Esq, the IEC decided for themselves what they think the law is ... just as you and I are free to decide for ourselves what we think the law is!

They are simply following the law – as they think the law to be.

Stop confusing matters by saying that “the IEC is interpreting the law”! No they are NOT! It is the court that interprets the law ... not me, not the IEC and NOT even an eminent Oxford University Lawyer like yourself! Lawyers give an “opinion”, which is NOT an “interpretation” – something that is reserved for the courts!

As I argued on WhatsOnGambia three days ago and as Lawyer Lamin J Dabo wrote on GunjurOnLine yesterday, “Sabally does not have a snowball’s chance in hell” of winning in court. The facts are against him:-

A Commission of Inquiry has stated that he should be banned from holding public office for life;

Section 90 of the Constitution says that he who has abused or misused his office should be banned from being a candidate for the National Assembly.

Case closed. End of. The IEC is on solid grounds.

PS: Momodou Sabally has declared himself to be “The Gambia’s Julius Malema”, so we might soon see him wearing red overalls in the streets of Banjul ... and leading a revolution, a new 10-Years JOTNA?!

Dida Jallow-Halake,

Notting Hill, UK.