By: Dawda M. Jallow
A civil court hearing involving multimillion-euro petroleum transaction took a dramatic turn when video footage allegedly showing large amounts of foreign currency being counted in a private office was presented during cross-examination of a former senior executive of Gampetroleum.
The case was filed by Gambian businessman Abubakary Jawara, chief executive of GACH Global Trading Company, who was seeking legal redress over the alleged disappearance of about €58 million linked to petroleum supply transactions.
Two defendants are named in the suit: Khadijatou Kebbeh, a former agent of GACH Global, and Saikou Drammeh, former general manager of Gampetroleum.
The matter is being heard before a court in Banjul, where Drammeh appeared as a witness and was cross-examined by counsel K. Jallow regarding his professional background and his role in dealings with the plaintiff’s company.
During his testimony, Drammeh described himself as a petroleum engineer with international training and experience in the oil and gas sector.
He told the court that he obtained a bachelor’s degree from National Taiwan University of Science and Technology before undergoing practical petroleum training in Venezuela. He later completed a master’s degree in Oil and Gas Management at a university in Norway.
According to his testimony, he began his professional career in 2008 with the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), where he served as an operations officer overseeing daily operational activities at a time when the corporation was still developing its internal structures.
Drammeh said he remained with GNPC until 2015, after which he joined Gampetroleum in an operational role. He later rose through the ranks, becoming acting general manager in 2016 before being confirmed as substantive general manager in 2017. He served in that position until 2021.
Under cross-examination, Drammeh acknowledged knowing Jawara as a businessman whose company conducted business with Gampetroleum.
He confirmed signing a throughput agreement dated 2 July 2021 involving Gampetroleum, Storage Pacific Limited and GACH Global Trading Company.
The document, admitted into evidence as Exhibit P1, concerns the storage of petroleum products at Gampetroleum’s facilities.
Drammeh told the court the agreement followed a supply contract reportedly awarded to GACH Global by the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation and the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC).
According to his testimony, the agreement required the physical delivery of petroleum products before any payments could be processed.
“No payments were made because there was no supply of products under the agreement,” he told the court.
He further explained that Gampetroleum did not sell petroleum products but provides storage services for petroleum shipments.
The proceedings also examined Drammeh’s relationship with Kebbeh, whom he acknowledged was previously married to him.
He confirmed that during their marriage she served as an agent for GACH Global.
Drammeh told the court that he later learned the company terminated Kebbeh’s agency relationship in 2021 following a police complaint lodged by GACH Global. He said he became aware of the issue after a police investigation was opened.
A key moment in the hearing occurred when the plaintiff’s legal team presented a video recording which was played before the court.
The footage allegedly shows individuals counting substantial amounts of foreign currency, including euros and United States dollars, on a table inside what was identified as Drammeh’s private office.
When questioned about the video, Drammeh acknowledged that the recording was taken in his home office but said the money seen in the footage was related to unspecified “petroleum business”.
“I cannot tell exactly what currency is shown, but I can see dollars and euros,” he told the court, adding that he could not recall the date the video was recorded.
Witnesses for the plaintiff have previously alleged that bags containing large sums of foreign currency were delivered to Drammeh’s residence as part of the disputed transaction.
However, the defence has argued that the video lacks context and does not establish that the money belonged to GACH Global or was connected to the transactions at the centre of the lawsuit.
Drammeh also addressed the circumstances surrounding his departure from Gampetroleum.
He told the court he did not voluntarily resign but was dismissed after failing to appear before a disciplinary panel.
According to his testimony, he declined to attend the hearing because he believed members of the panel were corrupt.
He says company rules stipulate that an employee who fails to attend a disciplinary hearing for several days may be automatically dismissed.
The court adjourned the matter to 30 April when Drammeh’s cross-examination is expected to continue.
The case remains one of the most closely watched commercial disputes in The Gambia due to the large sums allegedly involved and its connection to petroleum supply operations in the country.