National Agency for Legal Aid-NALA

Did you know? ⚖️

For over 16 years, the National Agency for Legal Aid (NALA) has been at the forefront of promoting access to justice in The Gambia, ensuring that everyone, regardless of status, has a voice in the legal system.

Justice should never be a privilege.It is a right.

Reach out today and let NALA stand with you.

📧 [email protected]
📞 +220 758 6465

Did you know? ⚖️

The National Agency for Legal Aid (NALA) is now reachable through its official email and contact number for inquiries, legal assistance, and general correspondence.

📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Contact: +220 7586465

For more updates and information about legal aid services, follow NALA on our social media platforms.

Access to justice for all. ⚖️🇬🇲

PUBLIC NOTICE:

The National Agency for Legal Aid (NALA) wishes to inform the general public and its partners that it has updated its official email address and telephone number for correspondence.

Members of the public are kindly referred to the attached document for the new contact details and are encouraged to use them for all future communications with the Agency.

Thank you!

UNDP The Gambia
Attorney General's Chambers & Ministry of Justice ,the Gambia

Earlier today, Board Members of the National Agency for Legal Aid (NALA) paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Justice, Hon. Dawda Jallow.

The meeting, held at the Ministry of Justice, was attended by NALA’s Acting Executive Secretary, Mrs. Sainabou Jahateh, and the Agency’s Head Finance and Administration, Mr. Alhagie Ceesay.

The visit was aimed at engaging the Minister on key institutional matters, including recent developments within NALA and ongoing efforts to strengthen access to justice services across the country.

INSIDE THE COURTROOM – NALA

The State vs. Bilali Jallow – Judgment Delivered

The High Court has acquitted and discharged NALA’s client, a 66-year-old traditional herbalist Bilali Jallow, who was accused of ra**ng a 28-month-old child.

In a judgment delivered by Justice Z.N. Mboob of Mile 7 High Court in Bakau, the court held that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt. While medical evidence confirmed injury to the child, the court found no direct eyewitness testimony, no forensic link to the accused, and noted that the alleged crime scene was a public, unfenced compound accessible to others.

Citing the “golden thread” of criminal law, that the burden of proof lies entirely on the prosecution. The court ruled that the evidence did not meet the high threshold required for conviction.

Bilali Jallow was acquitted and discharged.

This outcome reiterates NALA’s unwavering commitment to providing quality legal aid and ensuring equal representation for all persons, particularly the vulnerable and marginalized.

⚖️Justice should not depend on your financial status.

At NALA, we remain committed ensuring that individuals right to equal representation is protected and guaranteed.

📞 Contact us now on this number!
+220 4399340/7586465

⚖️Justice begins with access. Walk-in legal aid services are available during working hours.

Walk in. Get assessed. Access legal aid.

⚖️ NALA Helps Release Fatou Jammeh from Mile 2 Prison

Following a complex and distressing human trafficking case, NALA has assisted in the release of Fatou Jammeh from Mile 2 Prison.

The case began when a Nigerian woman named Ugu Joy, who was arrested for human trafficking, contacted Samsidy Jammeh while in detention, seeking help to secure her release on bail. Lacking a valid national ID card, Samsidy reportedly tricked his daughter, Fatou Jammeh, to stand as surety on his behalf. Fatou later went to the police station, signed a bail bound without understanding the conditions and consequences, as the father had informed her that all she needed to do was just a sign. Ugu Joy was then released on bail.

However, after her release, Ugu Joy disappeared without a trace. As a result, the authorities held Fatou responsible for a bail bond of D500,000. With her father also nowhere to be found, Fatou was subsequently arrested, detained and taken to Mile 2 Prison.

Thanks to the timely intervention of NALA, Fatou Jammeh was released on the same day her mother visited NALA as a "Walk-in Client". The organization utilized its logistical support to fast-track the process and ensure her freedom on bail.

Expressing her relief and gratitude, Fatou’s mother shared the following message with NALA:
“I am so happy with your services. Wherever I go, I tell people that the agency helped me. They are the reason my daughter was released from custody. Your services are excellent. After days of worry, your office responded promptly and ensured my daughter was released from prison custody, using your office’s logistics to handle everything.”

NALA’s swift response highlights the importance of accessible legal aid and representation, especially for individuals caught in complex legal situations beyond their control.

⚖️Justice should never depend on how much you earn.

If you or someone you know is facing criminal charges and cannot afford a lawyer, the National Agency for Legal Aid (NALA) is here to help.

At NALA, we believe everyone deserves equal access to justice and fair representation before the law.

📞 Contact us: +220 4399340
📲 Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & WhatsApp for updates and support.

NALA Secures Acquittal in Murder Case

Mam Jarra Samureh, who was accused of murder in April 2021, was discharged and acquitted on December 18, 2025, following a lengthy and closely contested trial. For the first time in four years, Mam Jarra was able to spend Christmas and the New Year with family, after being unjustly held at Mile II Central Prison for four years 8 months for an offence she didn't commit.

The accused was represented by counsel from the National Agency for Legal Aid (NALA), whose diligent and professional legal representation ensured that the rights of the accused were fully protected throughout the proceedings.

This discharge and acquittal stands as a powerful testament to NALA’s commitment to providing quality legal aid, regardless of the gravity or complexity of the allegations faced by an accused person. It reinforces the principle that access to justice is a right, not a privilege, and that every individual is entitled to competent legal representation under the law.

NALA remains steadfast in its mandate to defend the rights of indigent and vulnerable persons, uphold the rule of law, and ensure fairness within the justice system.

Did you know?
When applying for legal aid under the Legal Aid Act (LAA), 2008, an applicant is required to provide key information, including:

• Full name, date of birth, age, gender, and address
• Income and occupation
• Full details of the case or matter for which legal aid is sought
• The court or tribunal where the matter is being, or will be, heard

This information is essential, as it enables NALA to assess whether an applicant qualifies for legal aid in accordance with the law.

Knowing the process is the first step to accessing justice.

📞 +220 439 9340
📲 Follow NALA on Facebook & Instagram