Senior Magistrate Isatou Jallow has ordered the removal of Isatou Bah's name from the voter register in The Gambia. This ruling follows an objection to the voter registration of Isatou Bah that was officially filed by Fatou Darboe. The legal challenge initiated by Fatou Darboe sought a formal review of the eligibility of Isatou Bah to remain on the electoral rolls.
Evidence of Invalid Identity
Assistant Commissioner Momodou Jallow of the Gambia Immigration Department testified during the proceedings that the serial number presented on the National Identity Card belonging to Isatou Bah did not appear in the department's records. He stated that a search of the database confirmed the serial number could not be found. During his testimony before Senior Magistrate Isatou Jallow, Assistant Commissioner Momodou Jallow explained the internal verification processes utilized by the Gambia Immigration Department. He confirmed that the department maintains a full digital registry of all valid National Identity Card credentials issued to citizens.
According to the testimony provided by Assistant Commissioner Momodou Jallow, the specific serial number linked to the registration of Isatou Bah failed to match any entries within the official repository. The absence of this serial number in the records of the Gambia Immigration Department served as the primary evidence presented to the court. Senior Magistrate Isatou Jallow reviewed these findings as part of the formal objection process initiated by Fatou Darboe. The court proceedings focused on the validity of the documentation submitted by Isatou Bah during the registration period.
Magistrate Isatou Jallow cited section 28(c) of the Election Act as the legal basis for the decision to expunge the name of Isatou Bah from the voter list. This provision serves as the authority for the removal of the entry following the evidence presented by the Gambia Immigration Department. Under the framework of section 28(c) of the Election Act, the magistrate concluded that the evidence regarding the National Identity Card was sufficient to invalidate the registration status of Isatou Bah.
The ruling delivered by Senior Magistrate Isatou Jallow mandates that the Independent Electoral Commission update the voter register to reflect the removal of Isatou Bah. The objection filed by Fatou Darboe was processed in accordance with the legal requirements stipulated for challenging voter eligibility. By applying section 28(c) of the Election Act, the court finalized the removal of the name from the electoral database. The testimony of Assistant Commissioner Momodou Jallow remains the central component of the judicial record regarding the identity verification failure. Following the conclusion of the testimony and the application of the relevant legal statutes, Senior Magistrate Isatou Jallow issued the final order to expunge the name of Isatou Bah. The process initiated by Fatou Darboe has now reached its conclusion, with the voter list to be adjusted as per the directive of the court.
