Nfamara Marong Testifies Over D600,000 Hajj Payment in Kanimang Fraud Case

Nfarama Marong (C) Askanwi Media

By Fatoumata Konteh

Prosecution witnesses Nfamara Marong of Madiana and Yankuba Sanneh of Manjai Kunda have told the Banjul Magistrates’ Court that they paid D600,000 to Ejaba Travelling Agency for Hajj arrangements that ultimately did not materialize.

The testimonies were heard on Monday, 28th September 2026, as prosecution witnesses continued to testify in the ongoing alleged Hajj fraud case involving Kanimang Bojang and his company, Ejaba Travelling Agency.

Marong told the court that he paid D600,000 for a Hajj package after being referred to Ejaba Travelling Agency by Gambia International Airlines (GIA), while Sanneh said he paid D600,000 in installments to facilitate his mother Ndey Ceesay’s pilgrimage.

According to the witness, his son sent him money to make payment at GIA. However, he said he was informed that the relevant service was full and was directed to Ejaba Travelling Agency in Banjul.

Marong said he subsequently went to Ejaba, where Kanimang informed him that the Hajj package cost D600,000. “I asked them if there was no bargain. They said no because everything was part of it,” Marong testified.

He told the court that after making the payment, Kanimang wrote out and handed him a receipt and informed him that arrangements would be made for his passport, which would be processed in Guinea-Bissau.

Marong said he questioned how his passport could be processed in Guinea-Bissau, to which Kanimang allegedly responded that a Guinea-Bissau passport would be provided.

During cross-examination, defense counsel asked Marong about how he came to Ejaba Travelling Agency. The witness confirmed that he had been directed there by GIA. Counsel further asked whether the witness was directed to Ejaba by GIA because of the agency’s credibility. Marong said he could not say that.

He was also asked whether he could swear that the accused persons had successfully facilitated Hajj travel in 2025 using Guinea-Bissau passports. Marong said he was not aware.

Similarly, Yankuba Sanneh, who also testified before the court, noted he paid D600,000 to Ejaba Travelling Agency to facilitate his mother’s Hajj pilgrimage, but she ultimately did not travel.

Sanneh said he initially went to GIA to arrange the trip but was informed that the available Hajj arrangements were full. He said GIA offered to place him on standby, but he declined.

He later said that during one of his visits to Banjul, he saw Ejaba Travelling Agency’s office and decided to make inquiries.

According to Sanneh, he met Jim Sanyang at the office and asked whether the company facilitated Hajj. “I told him that I wanted to take my mom to Hajj,” Sanneh testified, adding that Sanyang told him their flight was not full.

Sanneh told the court that he subsequently made his payment on installment through cash and Ajib Bank, but his mother was unable to travel for what he had paid for.

During his cross-examination, defense counsel asked Sanneh whether anyone had referred him to Ejaba because of the company’s credibility. Sanneh replied that nobody had referred him to the agency. He said he came to know about Ejaba after seeing its office in Banjul and deciding to make inquiries.

The testimonies form part of the prosecution’s ongoing case concerning alleged financial transactions involving Hajj arrangements and payments made to Ejaba Travelling Agency. Following the cross-examination, the case was adjourned to 16th November 2026 at 10 am for continuation of other prosecution witnesses' testimony.