The ruling National People’s Party (NPP) deputy spokesperson, Seedy SK Njie, stated in court that a September 23, 2024, article in the Voice Newspaper about the party’s leadership had left its followers in a state of chaos, disarray, bewilderment, and despair.
In a criminal case brought by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) against Musa Sheriff, the editor-in-chief of the Voice Newspaper, and his deputy, Momodou Justice Darboe, the second accused, Njie made this declaration while testifying as the First Prosecution Witness (PW1).
Section 181A of the Criminal Code accuses Sheriff and Darboe with False Publication and Broadcasting. The accused allegedly published a news piece headlined “President Barrow Chooses Muhammad Jah As Successor and Presidential Candidate for the 2026 Election with the Voice Newspaper” on September 23, 2024, knowing it was untrue and lacking any legal justification or permission, according to the IGP.
As the NPP’s deputy spokesperson, Njie stressed in court that it is his duty to inform the public on the party’s behalf in a factual and trustworthy manner.
He also stated in his testimony that any information on the NPP that does not originate from himself as the Deputy Spokesperson or from Lamin Queen Jammeh, the Party’s spokesperson, is untrue, speculative, and deceptive.
Then, on September 22, 2024, Njie described his encounters with Musa Sheriff, the first accused and editor-in-chief of the Voice Newspaper.
Commissioner A. Sanneh, speaking on behalf of the IGP, inquired, “Did anything happen between you and the first accused person on that fateful day of September 22, 2024, which is why you are here today?”
Indeed, sometime about 5 p.m. on that fateful day, the accused, Musa Sheriff, called me and said he had some exciting news on his desk and wanted to check with me to see if it was genuine or not before telling the media. I questioned him about the recent hot news. Musa Sheriff informed me that two National People’s Party (NPP) executives had informed him that Mr. Muhammad Jah had been selected by President Adama Barrow to serve as the party’s 2026 flag bearer. Musa Sheriff wanted to know if the rumors were true.
I asked him to provide me with the names of the two executive members and informed him that I would not be giving him an interview. “My brother, this is a matter of concern and factual information,” he continued. I informed Musa Sheriff that this was untrue and untrue, and that I would not be giving him an interview. I instructed him to provide me with the names of the executive members before I would allow him to interview them. “He informed me that he has been keeping an eye on the matter for the last nine months,” Seedy Njie said in court.
Seedy Njie told the court that Musa Sheriff had interrupted him and confirmed that the information was true.
According to Seedy Njie’s evidence, he suggested that Musa Sheriff not publish the piece if he wanted to prevent the propagation of lies and division.
According to the NPP Deputy Spokesperson, he informed Musa Sheriff that unless he revealed his sources, he would not grant any interviews.
In response, Musa Sheriff stated that he was not allowed to disclose his sources due to journalistic ethics, Seedy Njie added.
Musa Sheriff said he would return to his news desk and contact me. I informed him that he would not be given an interview. I’ve known you, Mr. Njie, for a very long time, he informed me. I informed him that it would be detrimental to the President and a false publishing if he published the article. I informed him that he was not given an interview, but he never responded.
“Has anything happened that prevented him from getting back to you?” Sanneh, the commissioner, inquired.
“Yes, I saw a newspaper the next day that said, ‘President Barrow Chooses Muhammad Jah As Successor As Presidential Candidate for the 2026 election with the Voice Newspaper,’ to my expressed dismay,” Mr. Njie informed the court.
“How did you respond?” Sanneh, the commissioner, inquired. In addition to being astonished and taken aback, I had a ton of missed calls that day since I was occupied in Parliament. He remarked, “Everyone in the NPP was expressing their disappointment and dismay about the story.”
How did the members of the NPP respond? Commissioner Sanneh repeated her question. Everyone was taken aback, let down, and perplexed. due to the fact that the executive never met or talked about the flag bearer or succession. Thus, there was chaos among the party’s top echelons as well as its ranks and files,” Njie informed the court.
Mr. Njie told the court that the piece in question was the main story on the front page of Voice Newspaper when he was questioned if he was familiar with the publication that was allegedly responsible for the chaos, uncertainty, and division among the NPP.
The newspaper was subsequently asked to be submitted as a prosecution exhibit by Commissioner Sanneh.
Lamin S. Camara, the defense attorney, did not oppose to the newspaper’s admission.
The newspaper was later marked as an exhibit and accepted into evidence by Magistrate M. Faal.
Voice Newspaper reporter Binta Jaiteh is the author of the piece. Seedy Njie said he had never met or spoken to Binta Jaiteh and did not know her when questioned if he knew her.
“How did you feel when you recognized Binta Jaiteh as the story’s author?” Sanneh, the commissioner, inquired.
“I felt let down. How is it possible for someone to sit and act out a scene? I was astonished. Njie said the court, “I have never spoken to Binta Jaiteh, and I don’t know her.”
The NPP Executive never convened or met to address the flag bearer issue for the 2026 presidential election, according to Seedy Njie.
“Among the NPP, it has caused division, mistrust, misunderstanding, disillusionment, and chaos. After reading the papers and seeing people calling from all over to voice their displeasure, I called him (Musa Sheriff). I informed him that, although I was never interviewed, I had seen the Voice Newspaper publication and read the piece by Binta Jaiteh, who claimed to have done so. You stated that you wanted to interview me, and I informed him (Musa Sheriff) that I would not be doing so. He expressed his regret to me for the story’s publication.
I informed him that it had seriously hurt me, my party leader, and the party members. I informed Musa Sheriff that I would not abandon this story in that state. I instructed him to apologize to me the next day. On the top press, he promised to apologize to me. When I questioned him about the type of top press, he replied that they would write apologizing for misquoting me. I informed him that this is unethical journalism, Mr. Sheriff. I informed him that Binta Jaiteh was someone I had never spoken to. I instructed him to mention in his apology that I had denied him an interview. You are my person, Mr. Njie, he told me. “My credibility as well as the credibility of my newspaper would be at risk if I did that,” Seedy Njie informed the court.”I told him that you are considering your credibility,” Seedy Njie went on. What about me as my president and the NPP’s deputy spokesperson?
Seedy Njie told the judge that he had not received an apology from Musa Sheriff or the Voice Newspaper.
In order to allow for cross-examination, the case has been postponed until December 10, 2024.
