A civil case filed by artist Momodou Lamin Jarju, known as Rongo, involving a D30 million land claim, took a significant turn with key testimony from former minister Momodou F.K. Kolley at the High Court in Banjul on Tuesday, 12 May 2026. The suit, initiated in 2018, pits Rongo against the Alkalo of Banjulinding, an Imam, several community figures, the Inspector General of Police, and the Director General of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEAG). Rongo alleges unlawful arrest, detention, and prosecution related to disputes over his ancestral family lands in Banjulinding and surrounding areas in Kombo North. This legal battle shows the complexities of land ownership and traditional claims within the region.
The defendants in the case include Momodou Lungs Jarju (Alkalo of Banjulinding), Imam Yahya Bah, Lala Njie (legal representative of Malang Njie), Dawda Badjie (legal representative of Modou Badjie), Landing Korteh, Abdou Jarju (legal representative of Lamin Nafulou Jarju), Hamadou Ceesay (legal representative of Jarbel Ceesay), Foday Barry (former senior officer of DLEAG), the Inspector General of Police, and the Director General of DLEAG. Rongo is seeking D10 million for unlawful arrest and detention, D10 million for malicious prosecution, and D10 million for loss of earnings, reputational damage, and missed opportunities, bringing the total claim to D30 million. Former minister Momodou F.K. Kolley, a retired civil servant with extensive experience in government, provided testimony as a key witness, offering insights into the historical land claims.
Minister's Land Ownership Confirmation
Former minister Momodou F.K. Kolley's involvement in artist Momodou Lamin Jarju's land matters began during his government service when he conducted investigations into land disputes in Kombo North, specifically including Banjulinding. Kolley testified that Rongo and his father asserted their status as indigenous founders of the ancient, extensive settlements known as ‘Babbillon,’ which now constitute a part of present-day Banjulinding. During his investigations, Kolley met with indigenous community members and elders from Banjulinding to gather firsthand information and historical context. These individuals included the late Malang Badjie Alhagie, the late Ansu Colley, former Alkalo Sheriffo Colley, and Fatou Biray Colley, who reportedly served as village Alkalo in 2009. Their collective insights were key in understanding the long-standing land claims.
These elders and local authorities consistently affirmed to Kolley that Rongo’s family were among the original settlers and rightful owners of vast customary lands within the area. Kolley reported seeing sketch plans detailing ancient settlements that dated back to 1870, providing a visual representation of the historical claims. Further supporting these claims, Kolley examined cooperative society trade farming receipts issued between 1959 and the 1970s, which bore the name of Rongo’s late father, Lamin Jarju. These documents served as tangible evidence of the family's historical presence and agricultural activities on the land.
Kolley also presented attestations from the former Alkalo, the late Sheriff M.A. Colley, dated 1 October 2005 and 14 November 2006, which formally acknowledged Rongo's family's land rights. He cited warning letters against alleged trespassers, including one from the late Alkalo dated 7 October 2006, and another from the late Critical Chief Demba Sanyang, dated 31 October 2006. These letters demonstrated official recognition of the land boundaries and attempts to protect Rongo's property from encroachment. The former minister further introduced documents from the Banjulinding Council of Elders and the Village Development Commission, dated 20 May 2008, which indicated community-level recognition of the land ownership. Additionally, Kolley referenced a letter dated 22 September 2008 from the late former Critical Chief Alhajie Demba Sanyang, and a letter from the late former Alkalo and Chief Erik Tundeh Janneh, all reinforcing the historical and community-based affirmations of Rongo's land claims.
Kolley stated that these letters and documents from local authorities were intended to affirm Momodou Rongo Jarju’s land ownership and to express gratitude to him for pardoning trespassers, noting a history of both legal recognition and community relations regarding the land. He maintained that numerous local authorities had acknowledged Rongo’s ownership claims over the disputed lands, showing the widespread traditional recognition of his family's rights. Kolley additionally confirmed that Rongo had received official approval from the Ministry of Local Government and Lands long before Kolley himself served as Director of Physical Planning, indicating that the claims had undergone governmental review and validation prior to his direct involvement. Rongo also presented officials with an Estate sketch plan dated 4th February 2008, which depicted a portion of his land with already subdivided plots established as an Estate, demonstrating his efforts to formalize and develop the land in question.
Official Records and Ministry Actions
Momodou F.K. Kolley testified that he received directives in December 2010 to investigate disputed lands in Banjulinding Village. At the time, Kolley was serving as the Director of Physical Planning, and the directives concerned land claims of trespass, requiring his office to delve into the specifics of the contentious areas. His role involved examining the intricacies of the land disputes within the area, assessing existing documentation, and mediating between conflicting parties. This period marked a critical juncture in the official governmental review of Rongo’s land claims, placing them under the scrutiny of the Physical Planning department.
Kolley explicitly denied allegations that documents dated 4 May 1997 and 1 January 2000 were improperly used by artist Momodou Lamin Jarju, known as Rongo, to obtain land clearances or leases. He maintained that the procedures followed were appropriate given the documentation presented by Rongo, suggesting that all administrative requirements were met at the time of their processing. This denial directly addressed insinuations of impropriety in Rongo's acquisition of land titles or clearances.
Kolley stated that he personally forwarded the documents dated 4 May 1997 and 1 January 2000 to the Ministry of Local Government and Lands. This submission was made via an official letter bearing the date 17 December 2010, indicating a formal process of communication and documentation within the ministry, ensuring that Rongo’s claims were properly recorded and reviewed at the highest levels of land administration. The formal transmission of these documents showed their significance in the official land records.
During his testimony, Kolley referred to a copy of The Point newspaper dated 30 May 2005. The article reported the dismissal of Erik Tundeh Janneh from his roles as Alkalo and District Chief. The dismissal, as reported by the newspaper, was connected to issues concerning land problems in the area, suggesting a history of land-related controversies and leadership changes within Banjulinding and its surrounding districts. This historical context from a public record provided further background to the ongoing land disputes.
Courtroom Objections and Adjournment
During the proceedings, defense lawyer Kebba Sanyang challenged the relevance of former minister Momodou F.K. Kolley's testimony regarding land ownership. Sanyang argued that the core of the case before the High Court was not about land title, but rather the specific claims of unlawful arrest, detention, and malicious prosecution brought by artist Momodou Lamin Jarju, also known as Rongo. He contended that Kolley's detailed account of land history and ownership affirmations, while potentially informative, did not directly pertain to the actions taken against Rongo by the various defendants, such as the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of DLEAG. Sanyang's objection sought to narrow the scope of the court's inquiry, focusing strictly on the alleged procedural and legal misconduct rather than the underlying land dispute.
In response, Lawyer M.L. Ceesay objected to the defense's argument, asserting that the land dispute was intrinsically linked to the allegations of malicious prosecution. Ceesay maintained that Rongo's claims of unlawful actions stemmed directly from the contested ownership of the land in Banjulinding, making Kolley's testimony key for establishing the context and legitimacy of Rongo's position. He argued that to understand whether Rongo was maliciously prosecuted, it was essential to first establish the validity of his land claims, as these claims formed the basis of the police and DLEAG's involvement. The legal exchange noted a central point of contention in the D30 million civil suit, revolving around the extent to which the court should consider the historical land dispute as part of the current claims of unlawful actions.
Following these arguments and the conclusion of Kolley's direct testimony, the matter was adjourned. The High Court scheduled the next hearing for 13 June 2026, at which point the former minister will face cross-examination. This cross-examination will be conducted by the legal representatives for the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEAG), two of the key defendants in the ongoing case. The cross-examination is expected to delve into the specifics of Kolley's investigations, the authenticity of the documents he presented, and the implications of his testimony for the allegations of unlawful arrest, detention, and malicious prosecution.