By: Nicholas Bass
The lawsuit initiated by Lang Balla Saho, the former president of The Gambia Dock and Maritime Workers (GDMW) union, against two union members accused of his unlawful removal from office, continues to unfold in the Banjul High Court.
Testifying under cross-examination by defense lawyer M. Gomez, who represents the first defendant, Baboucarr Ceesay, Saho (plaintiff) explained that the 2023 constitution of the GDMW union gave him the authority to “recruit and fire” any dock worker who violated the union’s constitution.
However, when questioned by Gomez regarding the alleged withdrawal of D7 million from the union’s funds to pay for legal services, Saho strongly denied the claim. He clarified that D58,000 was deducted from each dock worker’s salary to cover the costs of the lawyer’s services, not the sum in question.
Saho also revealed that upon retirement at the age of 60, the president of the Dock and Maritime Workers Union is entitled to a substantial pension. “I received D1,680,000 after my retirement,” he confirmed.
Further testimony from Saho included accusations that he had been falsely criticized in the media by dock workers. He clarified that the seven dock workers he dismissed were no longer union members due to their failure to pay union dues for two consecutive years.
Additionally, Saho denied claims that he had threatened dock workers with police officers during union congresses. He explained that the presence of the police officers was to ensure the elections were free and fair, which, according to him, was a practice he maintained during his tenure as union president.
The case continues as both sides prepare further arguments in the ongoing legal proceedings.