According to the committee, an aviation valuation carried out in February 2018 by Virdis Aviation Partners estimated that the combined value of the aircraft ranged between $1.687 million and $2.228 million. The committee said the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs did not provide the valuation report to lawmakers, although investigators later obtained it through an anonymous submission.
The aircraft in question were among several planes found at Banjul International Airport during a visit by the Janneh Commission in November 2017. At the time, commissioners inspected an Ilushin 11-62m, two Air Tractor BT–802A firefighting aircraft and two Boeing aircraft. Officials also informed the commission that another plane belonging to The Gambia had been sent to Germany for maintenance.
Evidence later presented to the parliamentary committee by the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority, the airport authorities and the Finance Ministry confirmed that the aircraft were owned by the state, not the former president.
“Two of the planes; the Air Tractor firefighting aircraft were sold on May 11, 2018 to West African Aero Services SARL for $240,000 following cabinet approval. The sale was signed by former finance minister Amadou Sanneh and the proceeds were deposited into an account at the Central Bank of The Gambia titled Asset Recovery from Janneh Commission.”
The Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Seedy Keita also confirmed that three additional aircraft were sold to Sankajula Holding Company Limited for $500,000 on the condition that the planes be removed from the airport within three months.
However, the committee discovered during its own visit to the airport that two of those aircraft remain parked there despite the terms of the sale. The minister acknowledged that the removal deadlines were not respected and that no clear documentation exists regarding extensions, penalties or enforcement actions. The committee further noted that the ministry failed to follow up with the purchaser on the matter.
Lawmakers said they were also unable to determine where the proceeds from the sale of the three aircraft were deposited. Despite being directed to check ministry’s records and provide clarification, the finance minister did not submit the requested information to the committee.
Another unresolved issue involves an aircraft that was in Germany for maintenance when the Janneh Commission visited the airport in 2017. The committee said the plane remains in Germany today, with no clear documentation explaining its maintenance arrangements or future plans.
The inquiry also uncovered evidence that a Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot attack aircraft owned by the Gambia government was sold in 2023 for $150,000 to Vittoria Dordi, general manager of Gold Rock Trading.
In its findings, the committee said the investigation exposed deeper governance weaknesses, including the absence of a unified policy guiding how state aircraft and other high-value movable assets should be sold.
Lawmakers concluded that the finance minister failed to comply with directives requiring the submission of key documents and information, a lapse the committee said undermined parliamentary oversight and hindered its investigation into the true status of the aircraft and the proceeds from their sale.
