By Isatou Sarr
A farmer and shepherd from Sareh Kally in the Central River Region has told the Banjul Magistrates’ Court that he paid D600,000 for a Hajj package but never travelled to Mecca or recovered his money.
Testifying on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, Mudou Jallow, who appeared as the fourth prosecution witness (PW4), said he was introduced to Ejabah Company after a staff member of Gambia International Airlines (GIA) informed him that no Hajj slots remained.
Jallow told Principal Magistrate Kurubally that he went to the accused person’s office in the Albert Market area of Banjul in February 2026 after being directed there by GIA.
According to the witness, he informed the accused of his intention to perform Hajj and was told that slots were still available at a cost of D600,000.
He said he initially paid D300,000 and was issued a receipt before returning to Brufut the same day to collect another D200,000. He subsequently paid the remaining D100,000, he testified.
The witness identified the receipts and his Guinea-Bissau passport when they were shown to him in court. The prosecution subsequently applied to tender the receipts as evidence, and the court admitted them.
Jallow said that after making the payment, the accused asked him to provide two passport-size photographs and gave him a telephone number.
He testified that he was later invited to a meeting where participants were told to inform their families that they were preparing to travel for Hajj.
Jallow said he returned to the Central River Region and informed his family, who were excited by the news, before travelling back to the Kombo area to make final preparations.
However, he said the journey was postponed when the expected departure date arrived. Another departure date was subsequently given, but that date also passed without the trip taking place, according to the witness.
Jallow told the court that he later learnt that the accused had been arrested by the police.
He further testified that he had been told they would travel through Banjul International Airport despite holding Guinea-Bissau passports.
The witness said he never saw the original Guinea-Bissau passport but received a copy through WhatsApp.
He also told the court that he paid additional money for vaccination at Bansang Hospital.
“I paid my D600,000, the Hajj did not go through and I didn’t get my money back,” Jallow said during cross-examination.
The witness described the failed Hajj journey as embarrassing, saying he became reluctant to attend village gatherings because of concerns about how people would view him.
He further told the court that the experience had left him contemplating irregular migration, commonly known as “backway”.
Under cross-examination, Jallow said he was unaware of claims concerning previous Hajj operations by the accused’s company or alleged efforts to engage the Hajj Commission in Guinea-Bissau.
He maintained that, regardless of any efforts that may have been made, he paid D600,000, did not travel to Mecca and had not received his money back.
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