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Minister Keita pressed on missing aircraft records, unmoved planes

Nov 24, 2025, 11:41 AM | Article By: Jankey Ceesay

Appearing before the Special Select Committee probing the sale and disposal of assets identified by the Janneh Commission, Finance Minister Hon. Seedy Keita on Thursday navigated a barrage of questions over missing records, unexplained sales, and aircraft that have sat for years in Gambia and Europe some still unpaid for, others never moved, and one abandoned overseas for nearly a decade.

Counsel reminded him that the Janneh Commission had identified six aircraft in total; the two AT-802A1s sold in 2018, a Challenger CL-601 with registration C5-AFT, two Boeing 727-100s, and an Ilyushin IL-628 with registration C5-AFTG. The Commission also discovered during its 2017 airport visit that a sixth aircraft that belongs either to the state or the former president was in Europe for maintenance.

When asked about the status of the aircraft in Germany, Minister Keita could not provide answers, saying the aircraft was not in the Ministry’s files. “That will be with Civil Aviation,” he said.

Pressed further, he agreed to have his team search deeper and consult Civil Aviation for an update.

Counsel stressed that the aircraft had been overseas since at least 2017. “We’re in 2025 eight years is a very long time,” counsel said, demanding clarity on whether the aircraft is still government-owned, why it remains in Europe, and whether it will ever be brought home.

Keita relayed that he had been informed the aircraft was indeed still in Germany and had accumulated significant parking fees. He promised the committee that the ministry would put everything in writing including the exact fees owed.

The session then shifted to the three other aircraft sold in 2019. Minister Keita read from a letter stating that the government accepted an offer of $500,000 for three derelict planes Boeing 727-1H (C5-GOG), Boeing 727-100 (C5-GAF) and Ilyushin IL-62 (C5-RTG)

He said the buyer was Sankulleh Holding Company Limited, represented by Consular Law Chambers. “The terms were straightforward cash payment and removal of the aircraft from the airport within three months.”

But when asked whether the aircraft were ever removed, the Minister admitted he did not know.

Counsel put to him that the committee investigations revealed that two of the three aircraft are still sitting at the airport, a clear violation of the sale terms.

Keita agreed to find out why compliance never happened.

The minister pointed to account number 1401000044, but this did not match the Janneh Commission’s designated asset recovery accounts at the Central Bank. Keita explained that the sales appeared to have been treated as state assets rather than Janneh Commission recoveries though he could not speak to the reasoning behind that decision. He promised to look for minutes or correspondence to clarify.

Attention shifted to a military fighter jet sold in 2022 this time under Keita’s watch. He confirmed signing the approval letter. The jet was sold for $150,000 to Gold Red Rock Trading Company Limited, through its General Manager, Kebba.

He stated that unlike the earlier aircraft sales, the proceeds of this transaction were paid into the Ministry of Finance revenue account and later moved into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).

But counsel noted a discrepancy payment, another $240,000 also aircraft-related, had gone into the Janneh Commission Recovery Account.

Keita said he would verify all the accounts used and provide receipts.

When pressed on why some aircraft proceeds went into Janneh Commission’s accounts while others went into Finance Ministry’s accounts, the minister conceded: “I did not know the logic of splitting the proceeds into different accounts.”

By the end of the session, the minister had agreed to supply full updates on: the aircraft stranded in Germany, the parking fees owed, the exact accounts where all sale proceeds were deposited, and why aircraft sold in 2019 still remain parked at the airport.

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