Alhaji Bai Modi Joof

Alhaji Bai Modi Joof (or Bai Modi Joof, 15 December 1933 – 3 June 1993 ) was a barrister at law from the Gambia, Also known as Alhaji B.M. Joof, B.M. Joof or Lawyer Joof, he was a member of the UK and Gambian Bar, and a barrister and solicitor of the Gambian Supreme Court. He was named after his paternal grandfather Modi Joof (a Serer prince of Sine-Saloum and Jolof origins), and was the younger brother of Alhaji Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof, the Gambian historian, politician and nationalist during the country's colonial period. Bai Modi attended the Roman School in Banjul before passing his primary exams and progressed to the Gambia High School in Banjul (now the Gambia Senior Secondary School). In the Gambia, Bai Modi held various jobs, but mainly as a civil servant working as a tax-assessor. He left for the United Kingdom in the late 1950s to study law where he was also employed as a civil servant working as a tax officer with the Inland Revenue (now the HMRC). Having studied law at the University of London (Senate House) he was called to the bar on 26 November 1974 and was a member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn. The following year, Bai Modi left the UK with his family and returned to the Gambia where he established his chambers called Gal N'Goneh Fambai's Chambers in the Gambian capital of Banjul at number 5 Wellington Street. His chambers which was next to the river had to be relocated to number 2 Hagan Street (Banjul) around 1990 - 1991, adjacent to the Point Newspaper at number 1A, which became its official base until Bai Modi's death.

Legal career As an expert on International and English Law, Bai Modi travelled extensively to Europe especially the E.U. during his legal career in order to represent his clients. In the Gambia, he was one of the prominent barristers of his generation. He achieved particular fame and notoriety when he represented the editor of the Nation Newspaper in 1984 charged with sedition, during the administration of president Sir Dawada Kairaba Jawara. According to Gambian tradition, he represented all social classes, from the upper echelons of Gambian society to the poorest. In paying tribute to the passing of Bai Modi, William Dixon Colley said: