One Alhajie Abdoulie Chorr, a resident of Bakau South Atlantic, filed a motion before Senior Magistrate Abdoulie Mbakeh of the Kanifing Magistrates Court, alleging that his son, Amadou Chorr, has threatened to kill him. The plaintiff further claimed that his son’s attitude towards him had bee very good before but that as he grew up, the attitude deteriorated to one of violence.

He indicated that whenever he calls his son to offer him advice against bad manners, he turns a deaf ear to him and continues to do as he pleases. He stated that based on these reasons, he has decided that he could no longer live in the same compound with his son. He therefore urged the court to order his son to vacate his compound and also restrain him from provoking or threatening him after he vacates.

Magistrate Mbackeh told the court that he had carefully considered the prayers contained in the said motion and the fact revealed in the affidavit. He said the court was of the view that the motion had some merit in that the defendant had failed to perform his duties towards his father and, as a result, had lost the love and care he needed from his father. He maintained that the court could “not allow unruly children to harass their parents and subject them to unspeakable cruelties and inconveniences.” In view of this, Magistrate Mbackeh went on, the court deemed it fit to grant the orders contained in the plaintiff’s motion. He therefore gave the defendant until 17th April 2007 to vacate the plaintiff’s compound.

He also ordered the defendant to desist from all provocative acts either by using harassing words or conduct towards his father and other members of his family who reside in the said compound. He warned the defendant that failure to obey the said orders, he would serve six months imprisonment with hard labour.