The Sheriff of the High Court of The Gambia, Omar Jabang, has issued a strong rebuttal to a publication by this outlet on April 22, 2025, which alleged a conspiracy involving a Supreme Court judge, the Sheriff, and a senior lawyer to undermine a High Court order in a high-profile case between 82 Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) Gambia Limited employees and the bank.
The controversy stems from a legal battle initiated by 82 SCB employees, led by Ebrima Jatta and Musu Badjie, against the bank amid its impending sale to Access Bank Gambia Limited. Represented by Counsel Ebrahim Sanneh, the plaintiffs sought to halt the sale, arguing it jeopardized their employment rights and livelihoods.
On April 16, 2025, the High Court declined to stop the transaction due to its advanced stage and public interest implications. Instead, it issued a conditional injunction ordering SCB to deposit D250 million into an interest-bearing account controlled by the Sheriff to secure potential employee compensation, regardless of the case’s outcome or SCB’s exit from the Gambia.
Alkamba Times’s publication on Tuesday reported allegations of a conspiracy to sabotage the said order. Sources claimed a senior lawyer, whose identity was withheld but believed to be linked to SCB or its legal team, contacted the bailiff tasked with enforcing the order, instructing them to leave SCB’s premises and claiming compliance was imminent. When the bailiff refused, insisting on official directives, the Sheriff allegedly called within minutes, echoing the lawyer’s instructions and assuring the bailiff that SCB was preparing to transfer the funds.
Sources further alleged the Sheriff’s call followed communications from the senior lawyer and an unnamed Supreme Court judge, sparking accusations of a coordinated effort to deprive the employees of their court-mandated protections.
Sheriff’s Response: “Utterly False and Misleading”
In a detailed statement, the Sheriff clarified that the High Court’s order was directed solely at SCB, with no penal notice attached. The Sheriff complied by opening the mandated interest-bearing account and notified SCB’s Managing Director via a letter dated April 17, 2025, instructing the deposit as ordered. The Sheriff emphasized that its role in enforcing injunctive orders is limited to serving the order and preparing a return of service, enabling contempt proceedings by the benefiting party if the order is not followed. “The Sheriff does not have the powers to direct compliance with an injunctive order or to force a party to comply,” the statement read, dismissing claims of overreach or misconduct.
The Sheriff categorically denied allegations that its actions, including recalling the bailiff from SCB’s premises, were influenced by a senior lawyer or a Supreme Court judge, labeling the claims “utterly false and misleading” with “far-reaching consequences.” The office clarified that the bailiff’s presence was solely to serve the order and the letter regarding the account, with no further directive from the court. The Sheriff’s call to the bailiff was to ensure compliance with this limited role, not obstructing enforcement.
The Sheriff urged the publication’s source to pursue accountability through established judicial and legal channels, noting that no individual mentioned is immune to such processes. The office also highlighted that the injunctive order is under appeal, with a stay of compliance sought pending the appeal’s outcome, and called for restraint to allow the legal process to unfold.
Reaffirming its commitment to operating within its jurisdictional limits, the Sheriff warned that “transcending your jurisdictional limit has the potential of exposing any such office holder to unwarranted lawsuits.” While acknowledging the media’s role in promoting accountability, the office stressed that “cases are not fought and won in media platforms but within the confines of the courtroom.”
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