By Ida Njie
The Kanifing Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, granted bail to Salieu Gaye, accused in the January 19th Envy Night Club shooting in Fajara.
The case, presided over by Magistrate A. Manneh, saw the prosecution call its first witness, Inspector Samba J. Sowe of the CID Unit at Kairaba Police Station.
Inspector Sowe told the court police received a report of a shooting at the Envy Building, and by the time officers arrived, the victim, Muhammed Buhari Mendy, had already been taken to Kanifing General Hospital.
Sowe told the court that officers recovered three spent bullet cartridges at the scene and recorded witness statements.
Inspector Sowe also testified that a taxi driver, Ansumana Bojang, was arrested and admitted to transporting Gaye and another man, Abdou Faal, from the scene to the Legacy Apartment junction.
Defense lawyer B. Badjie raised concerns about not receiving key documents like the charge sheet and witness statements, urging the court to safeguard the accused’s constitutional rights by ordering the prosecution to disclose all relevant materials.
Prosecutor Inspector Baba Jallow agreed to serve the documents, and Magistrate Manneh ordered they be given to the defense before the next hearing.
As the hearing drew to a close, the defense requested bail for Gaye, arguing that the charge was bailable and that the alleged victim had already been discharged from hospital.
Inspector Jallow, for the IGP, conceded that the offense was bailable, but cautioned that Gaye does not reside in The Gambia and might abscond unless stringent bail conditions were imposed.
He also raised concerns about victim safety and noted that a full forensic report on the alleged weapon was still pending.
The defense countered, invoking sections 19 and 24 of the Evidence Act, and reminded the court of the presumption of innocence, arguing that the claim that Gaye was not resident in The Gambia was unsubstantiated. Counsel added that sureties were prepared to stand for Gaye.
After hearing submissions, Magistrate Manneh granted bail to Gaye, setting it at D600,000, secured by a title deed of equal or greater value.
Gaye must also provide two Gambian sureties, each to swear an affidavit of means and submit their national ID cards.
The accused is required to surrender his passport and is prohibited from leaving the country without the court’s permission.
