Africa-Press – Gambia. At Kanifing High Court, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Omar Jabang of the Gambia Police Force’s fraud squad presented CCTV footage related to the ongoing civil suit concerning the alleged theft of 19 kilograms of gold at Banjul International Airport.
The footage, expected to be a crucial piece of evidence, was produced as part of a case filed by prominent businessmen Alagie Jabbi and Mustapha Jabbie, trading as Jabbi Brothers of Latrikunda Sabiji. The plaintiffs are seeking compensation amounting to $1,040,000 (or its equivalent in Gambian Dalasi), representing the claimed value of the gold reportedly stolen by airport personnel.
The lawsuit names the Gambia International Airport, Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Euro Africa Airlines Security Limited, and eleven employees of these entities as defendants. Among the individuals named are Babanding Kanyi and Buba Bojang (Gambia International Airlines – GIA); Ndey Fatou Gaye, Ebrima Jobarteh, Alimatou Riley, Bakary Sanno, and Fatou Bojang (GCAA); and Ismaila Baldeh and Omar Jarju (Euro Africa Airlines Security Limited).
According to the plaintiffs’ statement, the alleged theft occurred on June 24, 2023, when Mustapha Jabbie was preparing to board a flight to Dubai carrying the 19 kg of gold intended for sale. The gold, sourced from Mali through Africa Emerging Services Limited, had all required customs duties paid and was accompanied by a certificate of origin. Each gold bar was valued at $55,000, with Abdifitah Hersi in Dubai identified as the prospective buyer.
Upon arrival in Dubai, Mustapha Jabbie discovered the gold was missing from his luggage. The incident was promptly reported to airport police by Alagie Jabbi, leading to an investigation and a formal request for CCTV footage.
The plaintiffs allege that the footage captures the sequence of events in which the bag containing the gold was intercepted after scanning on the conveyor belt. Ndey Fatou Gaye, responsible for the scanning machine, reportedly alerted her superior, Ebrima Jobarteh, who, along with Alimatou Riley, handled the luggage. The bag was then passed to Babanding Kanyi, Ismaila Baldeh, and Omar Jarju, who were observed in discussion. Babanding Kanyi is accused of removing the suitcase from the conveyor belt and moving it to a location outside CCTV coverage, where the inner suitcase containing the gold was extracted.
Further allegations involve Bakary Sanno assisting in removing the “slow-tape” from the bag. The plaintiffs contend that Babanding Kanyi took the empty suitcase on the flight, while the gold was handed over to Buba Bojang, who allegedly had no authorized reason to be in the Departure Hall.
Additional claims assert that Buba Bojang, Ndey Fatou Gaye, Ebrima Jobarteh, Alimatou Riley, Bakary Sanno, Fatou Bojang, Ismaila Baldeh, and Omar Jarju converged at the unmonitored area. Buba Bojang purportedly transported the gold away in his vehicle, returned briefly to retrieve a jacket, and then departed again. Fatou Bojang and Ismaila Baldeh are also implicated in aiding Babanding Kanyi.
The plaintiffs seek damages totaling D3,000,000 for the alleged conversion of the gold, D90,000 for legal and administrative expenses, 25% interest from June 2023 until judgment, 4% interest from judgment until payment, and court costs.
During today’s session, ASP Omar Jabang presented the CCTV footage as previously ordered by Justice G.A. Kwabeng at a pre-trial conference. The Inspector General of Police was directed to submit the Departure Lounge Operations footage from June 24, 2023, which has since been shared with all parties.
Senior Counsel Kebba Sanyang, representing the plaintiffs, announced their intent to submit video evidence of the gold at a testing facility but requested an adjournment due to the unavailability of the expert witness. Defence counsel for Civil Aviation opposed the adjournment, citing previous delays caused by the plaintiffs.
Despite the objection, the presiding judge granted the adjournment and scheduled the formal trial commencement for June 19, 2025.
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