Chief Ebrimah Manneh v. Republic of The Gambia
Key Judgment
Legal Relevance
Keywords: Guarantees of Non-Repetition | Deprivation of Liberty | Refusal to Disclose Fate | Right to Know the Truth | Punishment | Reparations
Themes: Memory and Reparations | Prevention | Justice and Truth
The Court outlined the nature of special, general, and punitive damages. Regarding punitive damages, it held that they were not generally awarded to compensate, but to reform or deter from pursuing a particular course of action. It identified no record showing the award of punitive damages in a human rights case and held that it was not the object of the African Charter to award punitive damages.
Judgment Date
June 5, 2008
Country
The Gambia
Judicial Body
Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Court)
Articles violated
Article 2 [ACHPR], Article 6 [ACHPR], Article 7(1) [ACHPR], Article 4(g) [ECOWAS]
Articles not violated / not dealt with
Article 4 [ACHPR], Article 5 [ACHPR]
Facts of the Case
Chief Ebrimah Manneh was a journalist with the Daily Observer. He was illegally arrested on 11 July 2006 by two officials of the National Intelligence Agency of the Gambia at the Daily Observer's premises in Banjul, the Gambia. He was held incommunicado for a period of time after his arrest. He has not been charged of any offence or brought before any court of law.