Gambia ALERT: Court remands rights defender over “false information”

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The Kanifing Magistrate Court remanded Edwin Nebolisa Nwakaeme, a local human rights defender and director of programmes of the Banjul-based Africa in Democracy and Good Governance (ADG) in police custody for allegedly “giving false information”.

Nwakaeme declined to enter a plea and was remanded to reappear in court on March 10.

The rights defender was first picked up on February 22 by three plain-clothed policemen drawn from Serekunda.

The activist who is a Nigerian and based in the Gambia was later transferred to New Jeshwang Immigration Post and detained until February 25 when he was released without charge.

Nwakaeme was again invited on March 1st and was unlawfully detained at the Serious Crime unit of the Gambian police headquarters for eight days, far in excess of the 72 hours stipulated under the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia.