The ECOWAS Community Court would on September 30, 2010 rule on whether Musa Saidykhan who was tortured by the Gambian state security agents in 2006 could amend his statement of claim and provide material evidence to tally with his oral submission.
At the last hearing the Gambian authorities, represented by a team of five defence lawyers led by Martin Okoi argued over the amendment for about one and a half hours with Shola Egbeyinka, a member of Saidykhan’s team.
Saidykhan had on July 9 brought the motion to enable him produce the clothes that he wore and his medical records after he and his physician had testified in court on June 7, 2010.
Saidykhan, a former editor-in-chief of The Independent, the banned Banjul-based newspaper, was among several victims who were illegally detained and suffered all manner of cruelty at the hands of the Gambian security agents in the aftermath of an alleged coup attempt in March 2006.
Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in November 2007 initiated the action on Saidykhan’s behalf in order to seek justice for him and many others.