Paulo Djabi, Nadine Pereira, Mamadu Neto Djabi, and Secuna Jabi were all given bail on Wednesday by Honorable Justice Achibonga, who is in charge of the High Court of the Gambia. The total bail sum issued to all four of them is D127,500,000.

This ruling comes in response to a request for bail submitted by their attorneys, which was granted awaiting the trial’s hearing and verdict. On September 13, 2023, the defendants were first charged with fifteen charges of money laundering and drug-related activities.

Commissioner A. Ceesay of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEAG), who is leading the prosecution, has asked for the case to be transferred to the High Court due to its authority over money laundering offenses.
On September 14, 2023, Magistrate Omar Jabang of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court denied the transfer and granted bail to the accused against the prosecution’s motion, retaining the Magistrates’ Court’s jurisdiction over money laundering accusations. The prosecution filed an appeal with the High Court after the DLEAG re-arrested and detained the persons in violation of the Magistrates’ Court’s ruling.

In response to the appeal, the High Court granted an injunction, directing the accused to remain in custody until the appeal is heard and decided. In issuing the decision, Justice Achibonga emphasized that a court cannot exercise authority beyond that which is statutorily authorized, calling attention to the Magistrates’ Court’s mistakes in both the bail application and jurisdiction.
Soon after, S.M. Tambedou and LS Camara, the accused’s attorneys, filed an originating summons asking for bail on behalf of their clients awaiting the hearing and outcome of the main lawsuit. In contrast to other bail requests, the State did not object to this one.

Hon. Justice Achibonga granted Paulo Djabi bail, set at D120 million, with two Gambian sureties owning landed properties, in the absence of objections from the State. Along with giving over both of his foreign passports to the High Court Registrar, Paulo Djabi must follow stringent directions not to use them.

Nadine Pereira obtained D5 million in bail, with the assistance of two landed-property-owning Gambian sureties. Like Djabi, she has to give up her two foreign passports; no access is allowed.
Mamadou Neto Djabi was given a D2 million bail, supported by a single D2 million worth of landed property belonging to a Gambian guarantor. He must turn in his foreign passport to the Registrar of the High Court.

Secuna Jabi was granted bail in the sum of D500,000, with the backing of a single Gambian surety who had a D500,000 piece of landed property.
The total bail bond amount for all defendants is D127,500,000.