A Nigerian appointed High Court judge in the Gambia has sentenced the former Chief of Defense Staff of the armed forces, Lieutenant General Lang Tombong Tamba and seven other top security officers to death, after they were found guilty of having planned to overthrow the government of president Yahya Jammeh in 2009.

The seven officers sentenced to death with Lt. Gen. Tamba are: Brigadier General Omar Bun Mbye, Major Lamin Bo Badjie, Lieutenant Colonel Kawsu Camara, (alias Bombardier), former Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) Momodou B. Gaye, Gibril Ngorr Secka, Abdoulie Joof and Yousef Ezziden (alias Rambo).

The Charges

Count one: conspiracy to commit treason - which is contrary to Section 35 (l) (G) of the Criminal Code, Cap 10, Volume lll, Laws of The Gambia - 1990. The particulars of offense states that the former Chief of Defense Staff, Lt General Lang Tombong Tamba, Brigadier General Ndure Cham, Brigadier General Omar Bun Mbye, Colonel Lamin BO Badjie, Lt Colonel Kawsu Camara, ex-deputy Inspector General of Police Modou Gaye, Gibril Ngorr Secka, Abdoulie Joof, Yousef Ezziden (alias Rambo) Omar Camara and others, now at large, on diverse dates between 1st January and 19th December 2009 at Bijilo and other places, conspired to stage a coup d?'etat and overthrow the president, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh and the democratically elected government of the Republic of The Gambia by force of arms.

Count two: Treason - contrary to Section 35 (l) (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 10, Volume lll, Laws of The Gambia - 1990. The particulars of offense states that the group of ten and others, now at large, on diverse dates between 1st January and 19th December 2009, procured arms and ammunition, equipment and mercenaries from Guinea Conakry and other places, to stage a Coup d?'etat and overthrow the president and the democratically elected government of the Republic of The Gambia.

count three: Treason - contrary to Section 35 (l) (d) of the Criminal Code, Cap 10, Volume lll, Laws of The Gambia. The particulars of offense states that Lt General Lang Tombong Tamba, Brigadier General Ndure Cham, Brigadier General Omar Bun Mbye, Colonel Lamin BO Badjie, Lt Colonel Kawsu Camara, ex-deputy Inspector General of Police Modou Gaye, Gibril Ngorr Secka, Abdoulie Joof, Yousef Ezziden (alias Rambo) Omar Camara and others now at large on diverse dates between 1st January and 19th December 2009 procured arms and ammunition, equipment and mercenaries from Guinea Conakry and other places to stage a Coup d?'etat and overthrow the president, Sheikh Professor Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh and the democratically elected government of the Republic of The Gambia.

Justice Emmanuel Amahdi convicted them on two counts of treason charges - but struck out count three against the accused persons.

 The verdict

"Lieutenant General Lang Tombong Tamba, sentenced to death on count one and two. Brigadier General Omar Bun Mbye, sentenced to death on count one and two. Major Lamin Bo Badjie, sentenced to death on count one and two. Lieutenant Colonel Kawsu Camara, sentenced to death on count one and two. Momodou Gaye, sentenced to death on count one and two. Gibril Ngorr Secka, sentenced to death on count one and two, Abdoulie Joof, sentenced to death on count one and two, and Yousef Ezziden, sentenced to death on count one and two”, Justice Ahmadi said.

He also added that the convicts are to suffer death in a manner to be authorised by the law, but added that they have rights to appeal within thirty days.

_________

Lt. Gen. Tamba Story Timeline

- Gambia's Army Chief Dismissed

- High Court Forces Gen Tamba to Plead

- Gen Tamba Charged

- Schoolboy Testifies Against Gen Tamba

- More Revelations Against Tamba...