The Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) lawsuit against The Gambia Government and two pharmaceutical companies has moved closer to judgement after the final witness concluded testimony before the Banjul High Court. Justice Ebirma Jaiteh officially declared the trial stage closed following evidence from Dr Mustapha Bittaye, the last witness in the case brought by 27 parents.

More in the court report.

A tense courtroom exchange unfolded at the High Court in Banjul as the Chief Medical Director of Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Dr Mustapha Bittaye, openly challenged the conclusion of the government’s acute kidney injury outbreak report on the deaths of more than 70 children linked to contaminated medicines.

More in the court report.

Tension gripped the Banjul High Court as the Chief Medical Director of Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Dr Mustapha Bittaye, challenged the government’s task force findings on the deaths of over 70 children, insisting the report is “not 100% conclusive”.

Dr Bittaye made the assertion during a heated cross-examination by Counsel Anna Njie, representing the plaintiffs, as proceedings continued before Justice Jaiteh on Wednesday, 29th April 2026.

More in the court report.

The High Court has ruled in favour of the third, fourth, and fifth defendants in the ongoing Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) case, granting their motion to call an additional witness and accepting the witness statement as properly filed. Justice Ebrima Jaiteh delivered the ruling on Thursday, 27th November 2025. More in this report.

The AKI trial continued on Wednesday, 12th November 2025, at Banjul High Court, where proceedings were marked by a tense exchange between the presiding judge, Justice Ebrima Jaiteh, and defence Counsel Oket over the absence of an additional witness the defence had previously indicated would testify. More in the news report.

The Executive Director of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), Mr. Essa Marenah, has admitted under cross-examination that the agency approved medicines through a process called “Listing”—which does not require laboratory testing—due to the country’s limited testing capabilities. His testimony came during the ongoing civil trial over the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) scandal, in which more than 70 children died after consuming contaminated syrups. Counsel for the plaintiffs argued that the four deadly medicines were never officially registered but merely listed, raising serious questions about regulatory oversight before and after the tragic deaths. More in the report.

The Executive Director of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), Mr. Essa Marenah, came under sharp scrutiny during a tense cross-examination at the High Court on Thursday, as part of the ongoing lawsuit over the deaths of children linked to contaminated medicines. The courtroom tension later spilled outside, where Mr. Marenah confronted a journalist for taking his photo and allegedly attempted to force its deletion. More in the report.

The Director of Atlantic Pharmaceuticals, Ali Suman, came under intense cross-examination at the High Court in Banjul on Tuesday, as legal proceedings continue into the deaths of over 70 children allegedly caused by contaminated cough syrups imported by his company. Facing pointed questions from the plaintiffs’ legal team, Mr. Suman defended his company's practices as scrutiny mounted over expired import documents and discrepancies in certification claims. More in this report.

The ongoing Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) legal battle between some 27 bereaved children against the government and two pharmaceutical companies saw more moving testimonies from parents on how “bad medicines” killed their children. More in the report.

During the continuation of the AKI Court Case hearing on the afternoon of 23rd January 2025, witnesses narrated how their children died soon after ingesting paracetamol syrups prescribed by doctors from the hospital. More in this report.

High Court Judge Justice Ebrima Jaiteh announced on Thursday, 14^th November 2024 that the trial for the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) will begin on 21^st November 2024, pending the submission of crucial documents from the Ministry of Health to support the plaintiffs' claims.

High Court Judge, Justice Jaiteh condemned the Health Minister Samateh’s failure to comply with his subpoena in the latest AKI Court case hearing which took place on 11th November 2024. The High Court Judge has now ordered for the Health Minister to appear before him on 14th November 2024.

The Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) legal suit where some 27 bereaved parents have filed for damages against the Government and two Pharmaceutical Companies was adjourned to the 12th of November 2024 after High Court Judge, Justice Ebrima Jaiteh failed to appear at 2:15 pm today 29th October 2024.

The first day of pre trial saw Justice Jaiteh proceed with the trail after a brief break for the Defense to collect his documents to support his argument. However, Justice Jaiteh was adamant as he urged the hearing to proceed citing over 150 cases in his high court to address.

The Acute Kidney Injury legal suit which has seen some 27 bereaved parents claim up to D405 million in damages after their children were killed from contaminated cough syrups, has been adjourned for pre-trial in October 2024.