By: Dawda M. Jallow
A Dubai-based precious minerals trading company has filed a lawsuit at the High Court of The Gambia, alleging it was defrauded of more than US$1.1 million in a gold transaction involving local brokers, a refinery, and several individuals.
Arabia Gulf Diamonds DMCC, together with its Gambian partner Safaro Trading Company Limited, has sued eight defendants, including B & M Gold & Silver Brokerage Shipping and Services Limited, its directors Bubacarr Bah and Mansa Bah, Guinean national Doula Mane, Abdullahi Jallow, Uzokwe Ifeanyi alias Mustafa Bah, KK Gold Refinery Company Ltd, and its principal shareholder Kabineh Kabba.
Court documents state that the plaintiffs came to The Gambia earlier this year to purchase gold for export to Dubai and were introduced to Doula Mane, who allegedly claimed ownership of about 200 kilograms of gold and assured that export documentation was available.
The plaintiffs further claim that Mane presented B & M Gold & Silver Brokerage as his export agent, leading to a sale and purchase agreement signed on 1 April 2026.
Before completing the transaction, 15 kilograms of gold were allegedly tested at KK Gold Refinery in Bijilo, with assay certificates indicating purity levels of 96 to 97 percent.
Relying on those results, the plaintiffs say they paid US$800,000 in two instalments, followed by an additional US$300,000 after being told further documentation from Guinea was required to complete the export.
However, the lawsuit alleges that the required documentation was never produced and communication with some defendants subsequently ceased.
The plaintiffs further claim that when the 15 kilograms of gold were later retested in the presence of a notary public, the purity levels were found to be between one and 2.3 percent, contradicting earlier refinery reports.
Arabia Gulf Diamonds and Safaro Trading are seeking repayment of US$1.1 million, along with more than US$312,000 in special damages, general damages for fraud and misrepresentation, interest, and other reliefs.
When the matter came before Justice Coker on Thursday, the court was informed that certain motions had not been properly served on all parties.
Justice Coker ruled that the case could not proceed without proper service and adjourned the matter to 29 June 2026.
About the Author
