PRESS RELEASE
12 March 2008

Security Agents Defy Ecowas Court Over 'Disappeared' Journalist's Case
Five state agents of The Gambia, who were summoned by the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja, Nigeria in the ongoing case of a "disappeared" Gambian journalist on March 11, 2008, defied the court's order and failed to make an appearance.The security agents had been invited by the court to clear themselves of their alleged involvement   in the arrest and subsequent detention of Chief Ebrima Manneh, a former reporter of the pro-government Banjul-based Daily Observer newspaper.

The court therefore had no option than to fix June 5, 2008 as the day it will deliver its judgment.

The security agents, three military personnel and two police officers had been mentioned earlier by witnesses for contributing to the arrest and detention of Manneh.

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) last year brought legal action for the sub-regional court to compel The Gambian government to unconditionally release the journalist.

The Gambian government has consistently refused to cooperate with the court.

On July 7, 2006, colleagues of Manneh witnessed his arrest at the Daily Observer premises. He has since been sighted in the custody of state security personnel, but the government has denied ever arresting him.