Former Minister Secka Passes Away

But not only are those in wigs mourning. The whole country is saddened as Mr Pap CheyassinOusmanSecka, a senior Gambian legal practitioner Thursday evening succumbed to the inevitable following a brief illness. He was laid to rest and to rest in peace on Friday at the Jeshwang cemetery.

“Pap Cheyassin seemed in a perfect condition of good health a few hours before his demise,” a family relative told The Daily News.

Our source said, MrSecka lunched with his family and it was after performing his evening prayers that he suffered from sudden heart attack. He was taken to the hospital where he was confirmed death.

Born in The Gambia’s capital, Banjul, MrSecka, 70s, was a career lawyer. While in his 30s, he diverted and plunged into domestic politics. The party he founded and led was called the National Liberation Party.

This was in the first republic and his political career was short-lived as he was sentenced to death for his alleged involvement in the Koukoi Samba Sanyang 1981 led rebellion.

MrSecka’s sentence was commuted by deposed President Sir DawdaKairabaJawara. Then, MrSecka had spent close to 12 years in prison.

From jail, he continued with private legal practice until in 2000 when he was appointed by President YahyaJammeh as attorney general and minister of justice. He succeeded FatouBomBensouda, the current chief prosecutor at the Hague-based International Criminal Court.

On January 30, 2001 MrSecka was relieved as minister. As typical of the Jammeh administration, there was no publicly known reason.

And he returned into offering his services as a private lawyer until his sudden death.