Sheriff Momodou Lamin Jobarteh, otherwise called Lamin AMS Jobarteh, but widely known as Babadinding Jobarteh, is indeed a veteran lawyer and a role model, especially in the improvement of advanced facilities for the Interior, Education,  Health, among other sectors in The Gambia.

Born on August 1st 1956, in Bansang Town in the Central River Region, Lawyer Babadinding Jobarteh has proven beyond doubt his love for this country as well as his contribution towards the improvement of the socio-economic development of The Gambia.

This is evident by the fact that Lawyer Jobarteh, recently built Bansang Police Station, sponsored the construction of the Bansang Hospital Private block, donated a new Ambulance to Bansang hospital, currently sponsoring many school children in Bansang and the surrounding villages, as well as bought a new satelitte system for the Police Intervention Unit at the Laminkoto PIU camp, among others, in the Central River Region.

However, the Daily Observer, on Wednesday evening had a lengthy interview with Lawyer Jobarteh, at his home in Old Yundum, Coastal Road, Western Region.

Below we produce the full text of the interview;

Who is Babadinding Jobarteh?

Lawyer Jobarteh; My names are Sheriff Momodou Lamin Jobarteh. My father named me after his close friend who is a Sheriff at Sabou Sirreh village (near Brikamaba) in the Central River Region.

I was born on the 1st August, 1956, in Bansang Town, Central River Region. My father’s name is Alhagie Ayouba Jobarteh and my mother’s name is Aja Sirra Jobarteh, my father actually comes from a griot family but my grandfather felt that he should engage his children in learning and teaching of the Holy Qur’an because my father never follow the line of griots. He memorised the Qur’an and he is well known and very popular in Bansang.

He was an Aide to the late Imam of Bansang Alh. Bubacarr Jallow.

My father was a great Islamic scholar and he brought us up through the teachings of the Quran because my grandfather made a pronouncement that anybody who comes from him, if you follow the line of griots, what ever you earn, may it not benefit you in any way.  So we went to school, we learn the Holy Qur’an and we did little farming as well.

Tell me about your educational background?

Lawyer Jobarteh; After my Primary education in Bansang, I went to Armitage High School. From there, I got scholarship and travelled to Rapungap Nachooghae University, Augusta High School and Northern Virginia University, all in the United States of America to study law.

I came back to The Gambia to work, then later I had a scholarship to study in Jayana, West Indies, after that I went to Cave Hill in Barbedos.

From there I went to Foura Bay College in Sierra Leone and I had scholarship again to Malaysia, where I obtained my LLB in law.

In Malaysia, I studied both Shariah and the English common law.  I finished my studies in 1993 in Malaysia and returned to The Gambia that same year.

What about your work experience?

Lawyer Jobarteh; when I returned from USA in 1978, I worked in various departments like the then Establishment Office now called the Personnel Management Office (PMO), vetinary department, Ministry of Agriculture, Bansang Hospital as Executive Officer, around 1984, from there I worked at the Department of Water Resources.

When I returned from Malaysia in 1993, where I obtained my LLB in law, I was appointed as a public prosecutor before being called to the Bar that same year. Then I was appointed as a State Counsel. I also worked at the police. From there I moved over to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and from the NIA, I went into private practice, which I am still doing.

Why do you choose to be a lawyer?

Lawyer Jobarteh; When the attempted coup took place in 1981, unfortunately, I was arrested and detained. At that time I was an executive officer at the Ministry of Agriculture.

What was the reason behind your arrest?

Lawyer Jobarteh; Well that was an infight, but I know for sure between me and God that I was wrongly arrested and wrongly detained. But that was the time when instructions were given that whoever is arrested must be detained with or without reason.

Did you take the matter before the court?

Lawyer Jobarteh; Yes, I went through the tribunal and I was acquitted.

Who was your defence counsel in that trial?

Lawyer Jobarteh; Lawyer Ousainou Darboe.

Is he your mentor?

Lawyer Jobarteh; Yes he is. This is why I am very greatful to him because if he had not defended me, who knows what would have happen? So immediately after that, I thought it is necessary for me to go and read law.

What are some of the challenges faced by Lawyers in The Gambia?

Lawyer Jobarteh; Well getting justice to the doorsteps of all the  people in The Gambia is a very difficult thing. One reason is finance, because not all people can afford to pay a lawyer.

There are times when I have to go out and do alot of cases without being paid a penny.

What is your role in the Bar Association?

Lawyer Jobarteh; Well that’s a very difficult question to answer because as far as I know, I am only a member.

What can you tell me about The Gambia Bar Association?

Lawyer Jobarteh; Well as far as I know, the Bar Association is very dynamic and everybody try to do his/her level best to maintain the integrity of the Bar.

Recently you have built a modern Police Station at Bansang, which was commissioned by President Jammeh during his “Dialogue with the people’s tour”. What is your reason behind this good initiative?

Lawyer Jobarteh; Government is spending a lot of money on rent at the former Police Station in Bansang, and if you look at quiet a number of things, you will realised that government alone cannot do all. Some of these things must be done by individuals, whether you like it or not, it is your responsibility socially and morally to do for your people.

I started with building private wards at the Bansang hospital before even thinking of the Police Station, but am disappointed with the hospital management because the project is still incomplete and I have given them all the funds and materials required for finishing.

I also donated a new Ambulance to Bansang hospital few months ago but the ambulance is presently off the road due to malhandling. So am disappointed with the hospital.

I bought a Satellite TV, antenna and DVD player for Laminkoto PIU Officers and I am going to build an entertainment Centre in Bansang.

I will always continue supporting Gambian people especially the security because they are here to protect and save lives.

How much money did it cost you to build Bansang police station?

Lawyer Jobarteh; Well I have done my best and I don’t want to disclose the amount that I have spent there.

Why?

Lawyer Jobarteh; Well if you look at the teachings of Islam, when your right hand gives, the left one does not have to know. After all, why do I have to tell the people what I have spent?  I did it free of charge.

Lawyers, especially those in the private practice are often regarded as opponents to the government. What is your opinion on this concept ?

Lawyer Jobarteh; As far as I am concerned, our job as lawyers, you defend cases against the government, you defend cases for the government.You are on both angles. So the fact that you are going to court and defend cases against the government, like all crimes are against the state. The fact that somebody is murdered, does not mean that the individual should not be defended.

So on our duty to defend a criminal or an accused person for example, does not make you an opposition to government and it does not also make you look like a person who likes the government, instead, you are merely doing your job without fear or favour.

Are you satisfied with the way cases are handled at the law courts especially the High Court cases?

Lawyer Jobarteh; Well really one must sympathise with the judges we have in this country because if my memory can serve me well, each of the judges in this country have nothing less than 200 cases. So there is no way that they can handle those cases as fast as they wish.

So Gambians should learn to settle their problems amicably at home before reaching the police or the courts.

Who is your best lawyer?

Lawyer Jobarteh; Well that will be too difficult for me to answer.

Who is your Gambian personality?

Lawyer Jobarteh; My family.

What is the way forward for Gambian lawyers?

Lawyer Jobarteh; We must be ready to work hard and help and teach our Gambian people to ensure that they abide by the laws of this country.

Tell me about your family?

Lawyer Jobarteh; I love my family and I always make sure that they come first before anything or anybody.

I have three wives, and I have five children abroad and the rest are all young and they are here going to school.

What are your hobbies?

Lawyer Jobarteh; Rearing of animals (eg. sheep) and farming.

Any advice for Gambian youths?

Lawyer Jobarteh; Well Gambian youths should stop drinking attaya on the streets. They should work or learn about skills work and they should stop using the back way to travel because all what they can do in Europe is available here because foreigners are making money in The Gambia.

Any final word?

Lawyer Jobarteh; Well I have to thank the Inspector General of Police, Benedict Jammeh, Deputy Inspector General Police, Momodou Gaye, Famara Jallow, Police ommissioner, Lang Fofana Police Inspector, Lamin Jawara, a Physical Planning Officer at Basse, who designed the Police Station free of charge, Lamin Sibeh Darboe, former Alkalo of Bansang for giving me the land and for his tireless efforts and support to the project and also Amie Jawneh Jobarteh, my wife at Bansang, for her tireless efforts, support, advice and encouragement to ensure that the Bansang Police Project is completed on time. I would also advised the police to use the Station with great care.

Thank You.
Lawyer Jobarteh; You are most welcome.