In a courtroom at the High Court in Banjul, four men—Ansumana Jarju, Losseni Diabate (alias Alfusainey), Abdoulie Jallow, and Omar Secka—stood before Justice Omar Cham on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, to answer charges stemming from a daring armed robbery at Access Bank in Bijilo.
The accused, facing allegations of stealing over D1.5 million, entered not guilty pleas to all counts, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle involving the four men.
The prosecution, led by State Counsel M.B. Mballow, presented a bill of indictment filed by the Attorney General, detailing three serious charges: conspiracy to commit a felony, robbery, and unlawful possession of firearms.
According to the indictment, the alleged crimes took place on or about January 22, 2025, in Bijilo, West Coast Region, and other undisclosed locations. The State alleges that the quartet meticulously planned the heist, conspiring to execute a robbery that netted D1,532,645 from Access Bank, an offense under Sections 272 and 273(2) of The Gambia’s Criminal Code.
Further compounding the case, Jarju, Diabate, and Jallow face additional charges for possessing two pistols and thirteen rounds of ammunition without lawful authority, violating Section 8 of the Arms and Ammunition Act. The prosecution claims these weapons were instrumental in the violent robbery, heightening the severity of the accusations. The fourth accused, Secka, was not named in the firearms charge but remains implicated in the conspiracy and robbery counts.
As the charges were read, each defendant stood firm, declaring “not guilty” with resolute voices, their pleas echoing through the courtroom.
Represented by a formidable defense team—Counsels Samuel Ade, U.A. Ugar, and T.B. Jallow—the accused appeared composed, their lawyers poised to challenge the prosecution’s narrative.
The defense’s strategy remains unclear, but lawyers may question the evidence linking the accused to the crime scene or the reliability of witness testimonies.
Justice Omar Cham, presiding with a calm yet commanding presence, listened intently as the pleas were entered before adjourning the matter to October 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., to allow both sides to prepare their cases.
The adjournment left onlookers speculating about the evidence to come, as the prosecution promises a robust case built on forensic analysis, witness accounts, and recovered items allegedly tied to the robbery.
The Access Bank heist has sent shockwaves through Bijilo and beyond, raising concerns about security in The Gambia’s financial sector.
