Dida Abdi Jallow Halake, a former managing director and editor-in-chief of the Daily Observer, has been charged with seditious intention, contrary to Section 52 (1) (b) of the Criminal Code, Cap 10, Volume III, Laws of The Gambia 1990. The former Observer boss was also charged with giving false information to a public servant, contrary to Section 114.

According to the prosecution, Dida Abdi Jallow Halake, on June 12, at the Observer Company, uttered seditious words like there would be a revolution at the company, which constituted a threat to the company.

On count two, the accused on June 12, at the Observer Company, gave false information to Amadou Samba stating that if the boss says "I go, then I go. Until then, it is a revolution at the Daily Observer, with me as the managing director". Mr Halake has pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.

Shortly after taking his plea, Police Prosecutor ASP Touray, applied for an adjournment for a forthnight to enable him to call his witnesses.

In response, Fafa Mbaye, the new counsel for the accused, replied that they were not opposed to an adjournment, but would instead apply for a bail. According to him, though the accused person is an Ethiopian of British nationality, he has lived in The Gambia for the past 22 years and "he is married to a Gambian. He lives in his own property in Kotu, which is worth not less than D50 million. Your worship, we are applying for a bail on his own recognition and if need be, deposit the title deed of his property," he said.

According to Lawyer Mbaye, they were also prepared to surrender Halake’s passport to the registrar of the court. Police Prosecutor ASP Touray raised no objection.

In his ruling, Principal Magistrate Jawo granted court bail at the sum of D250,000, with a Gambian surety.

He ordered that the passport of the accused be surrendered to the registrar of the court. The case was then adjourned to July 9 for continuation.