Chief Superintendent Dawda Jallow, Chief of Operations of the Kanifing Municipal Council, testified before Magistrate B. Sowe of Kanifing Magistrates’ Court that fourteen GALA members unlawfully assembled at Westfield Youth Monument without a security permit from the Inspector General of Police on May 8, 2026.
When the case was called, Deputy Commissioner M. Jallow and Inspector Baba Jallow appeared for the IGP; Counsel L.S. Camara represented all the 14 GALA members (accused). The fourteen accused are Omar Saibou Camara, Hakeem Touray, Alieu Sarr, Omar Sanyang, Abdoulie T. Bah, Ebrima Janha, Alieu Bah, Muhammed Sillah, Mamadou Jallow, Kemeseng Sanneh, Fallou Galas Cesay, Kaddy Jadama, Maimuna Bah, and Ebrima Kaira.
The prosecution charged them on two counts of unlawful assembly contrary to Section 63 of the Criminal Offences Act, 2025, and common nuisance contrary to Section 137(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 2025. The prosecution alleged the accused gathered at Westfield Youth Monument without a permit from the IGP
The prosecution informed the court that they had their first witness and were ready to proceed. The witness was ushered into the witness box and took an oath to speak the truth.
He introduced himself as Dawda Jallow, a resident of Gungur Kunkujang and a police officer by profession, serving as Chief Superintendent of Police and Chief of Operations of the Kanifing Municipal Council for two years. He testified that his duties include being responsible for all operational activities within the KMC.
Dawda Jallow told the court that he recognised the accused persons in the dock. He testified that he was on duty on May 8, 2026, between 12:00 and 18:00 when he received information from his regional command of the KMC that youth from GALA had gathered at Westfield Youth Monument.
Upon receiving the information, Dawda Jallow testified that he dispatched a team of officers led by himself. Upon arrival at the scene, he confronted Omar Camara about their presence. Omar Camara responded that the group was GALA and that they had gathered to hold a meeting.
Dawda Jallow further testified that he asked Omar Camara whether they possessed a security permit from the IGP to hold the meeting. Omar Camara responded that they did not need a permit. He then informed Omar Camara that without a security permit from the IGP, no meeting could proceed. Dawda Jallow testified that the accused then began yelling and shouting: “The meeting will hold, the meeting will hold.”
When asked by Deputy Commissioner M. Jarjue where he found the accused person, Dawda Jallow responded that he found the accused persons inside the Youth Monument and informed them they were causing public nuisance by shouting and yelling without lawful authorisation from the IGP.
He told the court that he warned the accused that if they did not disperse, they would be arrested, but the accused refused to leave the premises.
Dawda Jallow testified that he then called the Police Intervention Unit (PIU). Upon the arrival of the PIU, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Landing Bojang, the officers posed the same questions about a security permit to the members of GALA.
According to Dawda Jallow, the accused again responded that they had no permit and began yelling and shouting, “the meeting will hold,” refusing to disperse; then the PIU arrested all fourteen accused persons for unlawfully gathering without a security permit from the office of the Inspector General of Police.
The case was adjourned to September 15, 2026, for continuation of his testimony
