The case of Fatou Jaw Manneh a Gambian journalist, based in the United States of America is still in limbo in the courts of the Gambia . She visited her motherland in March 2007, after her father’s demise. As soon as she landed at the Banjul International airport, she was arrested by the state intelligent services. Fatou was then detained at the National Intelligent Services head office for sometimes and was later charged.

Her case was at first heard by Magistrate Buba Jawo who later throw the case out of court arguing that his court has no jurisdiction to hear the case. He backed his ruling with the facts that she was not arrested within the kanifing municipality and that all the questioning was done in Banjul as a result the case should be heard at Banjul and not kanifing.

The case suffered another drawback as it was thrown out after two sittings at the Banjul magistrate courts. It was argued that Fatou was not arrested in Banjul but within Western Region Division so the case should be heard at Brikama magistrate courts.

The Brikama courts on hearing wrote to say that they too have no jurisdictions. Now the state has taken the case at the High Courts appealing against the ruling as to where the case should be decided. The High court has ruled that the case be heard at the Kanifing courts.No date has yet being fixed yet and Fatou still awaits justice.