The drug case involving Dawda Manneh, former National Assembly Member for Nianija and Demba Baldeh an ex-soldier failed to proceed yesterday at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court before Principal Magistrate Edrissa Mbai.

State Counsel Buba Bojang told the court that he was ready to proceed with his witness, but the defence counsel had called to inform him that he was held up at the Brikama High Court where he was attending to another case.

The presiding Magistrate ruled that there was no law that states that a case cannot proceed in the absence of the defence counsel. He said there are time limits even to capital offences. He said he would give the defence counsel an opportunity, and on the next adjourned date would proceed with the hearing of the case with or without Defence Counsel.

Former Nianija NAM Dawda Manneh and Demba Baldeh are standing trial on charges of being in possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking, as well as conspiracy. They were alleged to have conspired to traffick 9 kilograms and 260 grams of suspected drug (cannabis). They had denied the charges.