By Yankuba Jambang, editor

 A Nigerian High Court judge in the Gambia, Justice Emmanuel Nkea, has sentenced the country's former information minister to life in prison following his conviction of treason on Tuesday.

Dr Amadou Scrattred Janneh, 48, was arrested last year alongside Michel C. Ucheh Thomas, a Nigerian, and two other Gambian youths, Ebrima Jallow and Modou Keita for printing and distribution of t-shirts bearing inscriptions: Coalition for Change The Gambia, End Dictatorship Now, which the government of Yahya Jammeh said was done with intent to overthrow his APRC government. Janneh and his co-accused persons were subsequently charged with treason and put on trial. They pleaded not guilty.

But in delivering his judgment before a packed courtroom in Banjul, Justice Emmanuel Nkea, one of the many Nigerian judges in the country who have become known to Gambians as  mercenaries, and whose verdicts continue to defy logic and common sense, and in absolute disregard to the laws and the Constitution of the land, said he was 'satisfied with the volume of evidences produced by the prosecution', saying 'Dr Janneh’s intention was to oust president Jammeh by mass demonstration which was unlawful'.

The prosecution, the Nigerian Justice said, "proved its case beyond all reasonable doubts, and I hereby find the accused person guilty of the charges. His objective was to force the president out of power by force."

Defense attorney Lamin Camara told journalists they will immediately appeal the verdict.

Dr Janneh was sentenced to life in prison for treason and conspiracy to commit treason; and three years for sedition.

Michel C. Ucheh Thomas, a Nigerian, and two  other Gambian youths - Ebrima Jallow and Modou Keita who turned 28 on Tuesday, were charged with sedition and therefore sentenced to three years in prison with hard labor.

GPU-USA President Mathew K. Jallow and former GPU President Ndey Tapha Sosseh, who were indicted and charged alongside Dr Janneh, have had their charges dropped for being outside of the jurisdiction of the court.