By: Abdoulie John
The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ) has expressed deep concern over the continued absence of meaningful accountability in the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) case, which claimed the lives of more than 66 children in 2022 after they consumed contaminated India-made cough syrup.
In its State of Human Rights Report 2025, released on Monday, the Kerr Serign-based rights group described the tragedy as “the most alarming” incident in recent Gambian history. The report, seen by The Alkamba Times, highlights that, despite presidential and parliamentary inquiries, no significant punitive action has been taken against those responsible, forcing grieving families to seek redress through the courts.
The lawsuit filed by victims’ families remains pending before the Banjul High Court, with proceedings stretching into 2025. Families say they are determined to pursue justice despite the prolonged legal battle.
“Despite presidential and parliamentary inquiries, there has been no meaningful accountability, prompting affected families to pursue legal action against the State, a case that remains ongoing in 2025,” the EFSCRJ stated firmly in the report.
Particularly troubling, according to the group, is the defiance shown by Maiden Pharmaceuticals, the Haryana-based Indian manufacturer accused of producing the toxic syrup. Despite a widely published advertisement in the Times of India seeking the company’s response, the firm has failed to appear before the Gambian judiciary. In contrast, local entities Atlantic Pharmaceuticals and the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) have already been summoned and appeared before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh.
During a recent court hearing, defense counsel Anna Njie reminded the court that the government has yet to implement a key recommendation from the official AKI report — referring the case against Maiden Pharmaceuticals to the appropriate court. Health authorities, led by Dr. Moustapha Bittaye, reportedly failed to provide concrete explanations for the delay.
Speaking to The Alkamba Times via WhatsApp, Ebrima Sagnia, Chairperson of the AKI Victims’ Families Association, voiced outrage over the Indian company’s apparent immunity.
“They can’t go scot-free!” Sagnia exclaimed. He urged Gambian authorities to expedite action against Maiden Pharmaceuticals to ensure justice for the affected families.
The EFSCRJ’s report underscores the broader implications for public trust in regulatory institutions and calls for swift, transparent measures to prevent similar tragedies. As the case drags on, victims’ families continue to demand answers and closure more than three years after the heartbreaking deaths.
