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Gambia News : The Independent Asked To Collect Properties

Mr. Madi Ceesay, the Managing Director of the Independent Newspaper, has informed this paper that the Independent Newspaper has been asked to collect its properties at its head office at Kanifing South, along Radio Gambia Road.

This development came on the heels of a suit filed by the proprietor of the property housing the Independent Newspaper asking the court to order the state to leave the premises. However, the plaintiff and the defendant later settled the matter out of court. A representative of the plaintiff informed this paper that the state has handed over the keys of the premises to the plaintiff.

Speaking to this paper, the managing director of the Independent Newspaper, Mr. Madi Ceesay, said he had received a telephone called from Amie Bensouda’s chambers asking them to collect their properties from the premises.

Mr. Ceesay narrated that since the closure of the paper they have no proper dialogue with the authorities. He indicated that he had fixed an appointment with the former Inspector General of Police, Musa Mboob, as to how they can create dialogue in a bid to reopen the Independent Newspaper. He noted that their efforts failed to bear fruit as the authorities were not accommodative. “If we have access to our materials, like the printing machine, computers, printers and other stuffs in the market which are capable of printing a newspaper, we will operate,” said Mr. Ceesay.

In the same vain, he stated that the paper was not closed by any court order and that the license has not been revoked. He stated that technically the paper is a registered Newspaper that can function. “We have no access to our materials, if these materials are available the Independent Newspaper will come back to press,” he added.

Mr. Ceesay reiterated that as far as the paper’s license is not revoked, it is a legal entity that can practice in this country. He further complained that the office of the Independent Newspaper is sealed off by the police who barred them from access to their office.

To this end, he promised that one day Independent Newspaper would come back to news stands.