The 11 count charges preferred against Willy Joof, former Permanent Secretary number one at the Department of State for Foreign Affairs, have been reduced to eight counts now. The development follows Defence counsel Lamin Camara’s objection to other counts on the grounds that they are duplicitous and uncertain.

The Director of Public Prosecution, Emmanuel Fagbenle, informed the court at a recent hearing on the case that the prosecution had reduced the charges against the accused person to eight, striking out the charges relating to official corruption, theft and abuse of office. He conceded that the initial charges were incorrect.

The case was thereafter adjourned to 14th January 2008.