The trial of Salieu Gaye, the US-based Gambian accused of the 19th January shooting at Fajara’s Night Club, reached a dramatic peak. Prosecution witness the accused’s own cousin take the stand to describe the moment a dispute over “fast gas” allegedly turned into a double-shooting.
The proceedings began with a clash between the prosecution and defence Counsel. Inspector Baba Jallow applied to interpose (pause) the evidence of the first witness (PW1), who was reportedly too ill to attend. Inspector Baba Jallow requested to move straight to the second witness to keep the trial’s momentum.
Defense Counsel B. Badjie objected arguing that a mere sickness without medical evidence did not justify jumping order, especially since PW1 was the officer through whom critical documents were to be tendered.
Counsel Badjie also accused the prosecution of failing to comply with a court order to share all the documents they intend to rely on, reiterating his warning against a “trial by ambush.”
However, Magistrate A. Manneh ruled in favor of the prosecution, allowing the trial to proceed with the second witness while ordering that the defense be furnished with all necessary documents to the defence immediately.
The prosecution called PW2, Abdou Faal, the cousin of the accused. Abdou Faal, who lives in the same compound as the accused (Salieu Gaye) in Fajara, testified the events leading up to the violence.
According to Abdou Faal’s testimony, on the night of 19th January, Salieu Gaye returned home to drop off his sisters, telling him (Abdou Faal) he had purchased “balloons and fast gas” (a pressurized tank containing a nitrous oxide-like substance).
They returned to the Envy night club to “chill.” After paying D1,000 each for entry, the “fast gas” ran out within five minutes. An agitated Abdou Gaye insisted they confront the sellers for a refund or a refill.
He said they went outside the club and confronted the seller outside the club. The boy initially agreed to refund D2,000, but after making the cousins wait for over an hour, the mood soured.
“The one who sold him the gas said (Salieu Gaye), ‘If you are a boy, do something,'” Abdou Faal testified. “That was when the accused opened fire with a gun.”
Abdou Faal described a scene of chaos, stating he heard two shots fired. “I was confused; I have never heard such a thing,” he told the court.
In the panic that followed, Abdou Faal testified that he jumped into a taxi, followed closely by Salieu Gaye. They were dropped off at the Legacy Apartment junction.
Inspector Baba Jallow presented a black pistol in open court as whether the witness (Abdou Faal) would identify the gun. Abdou Faal identified it as the same weapon he had later seen at the police station.
Inspector Baba Jallow moved to tender the pistol as evidence. Counsel Badjie immediately objected, arguing that Abdou Faal was not the recovery officer who found the gun; he only saw it at the station after the arrest, also no serial number or model details were provided to the court.
Counsel Badjie argued that the existence of the pistol was new to both the accused and the defense,” labeling it another ambush.
Inspector Baba Jallow clarified that the weapon was being shown for identification purposes rather than formal tendering.
Magistrate Manneh adjourned the matter to resolve the dispute over the pistol and continue the trial on the 3rd of March, 2026 at 10:00 AM: Ruling on the admissibility of the pistol and 04th March, 2026 at 1:30 PM: Continuation of testimony.
