By: Fatou Krubally
A human rights group has called on the Chief Justice of The Gambia to immediately lift restrictions on public access to the ongoing coroner’s inquiry into the death of Omar Badjie.
The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ) has argued that justice “cannot be done in secret.”
In a public statement dated October 14, 2025, the human rights organization expressed deep concern over reports that the inquiry was being conducted privately in the chambers of the presiding magistrate, with attendance reportedly limited to the deceased’s family members and their legal representatives.
According to EFSCRJ, a coroner’s inquiry is by law a public judicial process intended to uncover the cause of unexplained or suspicious deaths, especially when state agencies such as the police or security forces may be involved. The Centre said the public and the media have a legitimate right to follow the proceedings in the interest of transparency and accountability.
The organization rejected claims that the case involves “national security” matters, describing that justification as unfounded and contrary to the principle of open justice. It warned that holding the inquest in secret could undermine public confidence in the judiciary and fuel perceptions of a cover-up.
“Shielding such an inquiry from public view raises serious suspicion,” the statement read. “Justice conducted in secrecy creates the perception of bias and impunity.”
EFSCRJ also criticized what it described as a lack of public explanation from the presiding magistrate regarding the decision to restrict access, calling it a “breach of judicial accountability.”
The rights group urged the Chief Justice to ensure that the remainder of the inquest is conducted in open court and that media access is guaranteed. It also called on the judiciary to uphold constitutional values of transparency, fairness, and public justice.
“The death of Omar Badjie is not just a family tragedy,” the statement concluded. “It is a national accountability test. Justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done.”
