Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – A US-based Gambian health worker, Dr. Muhammed Lamin Tekanyi, has leveled serious corruption allegations against Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Almami S. Manga, accusing him of extortion, abuse of office, and professional misconduct in connection with a disputed land transaction in Salagie.
The allegations, which have triggered public debate and calls for official investigation, center on a D1.2 million land deal and claims that ACP Manga demanded D65,000 to influence the outcome of the dispute.
Screenshots of alleged text messages and mobile money transfers circulating on social media purportedly show that the money was paid to ACP Manga by a land dealer.
Allegations Surface Over D1.2 Million Transaction
According to Dr. Tekanyi, the disputed land deal involved competing claims between parties linked to the transaction. He alleges that ACP Manga used his position as a senior police officer and a Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to exert influence over the matter in exchange for payment.
The claims have reignited broader concerns about corruption in land administration and the conduct of public officials involved in sensitive transactions across The Gambia.
ACP Manga Rejects Claims, Cites Legal Services
In a detailed public statement issued on 4 February 2026 and shared on social media, ACP Manga dismissed the allegations as “false and misleading,” insisting that the money referenced online was payment for legitimate legal drafting services he provided in his private capacity as a qualified legal practitioner.
He explained that the matter arose from a land dispute between UK-based Pa Famara Badjie and Tijan Khan.
According to Manga, after learning of the dispute, he advised that a formal complaint be lodged with the police and limited his involvement to guiding the complainant through established procedures at the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
Manga stressed that he neither assumed investigative authority nor interfered with police work, noting that the case was handled by investigators and later filed at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court under the authority of the Commissioner of Prosecutions.
Disputed Role in Mediation and Verification Process
In his rebuttal, ACP Manga acknowledged facilitating access to the SIU, accompanying parties on a site visit, and independently transmitting a lease document to the Ministry of Justice’s Deeds Department for verification.
He said the verification revealed that the land was registered in another person’s name and had previously been re-entered by the state, complicating efforts at an amicable settlement.
He further stated that he later agreed to draft a deed of assignment at the request of Tijan Khan, strictly in a private professional capacity, and that the Wave transfer cited online was payment for this service.
He denied any bribery, extortion, or inducement, describing the circulating screenshots as taken out of context.
“This is my first and final statement on this matter,” Manga said, adding that any accuser was free to file a formal complaint for independent investigation.
EFSCRJ Calls for Investigation and Removal
However, the Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ) has rejected ACP Manga’s defense, concluding that his own admissions demonstrate abuse of office and conflict of interest.
In a public statement dated 4 February 2026, EFSCRJ said Manga’s conduct fell below the ethical standards expected of a police officer and an anti-corruption commissioner.
The organization cited several excerpts from Manga’s rebuttal, arguing that they show he personally facilitated access to investigators, acted as an intermediary between private parties and the police, accompanied parties on site visits during an active investigation, and communicated investigative expectations.
EFSCRJ also highlighted what it described as a clear conflict of interest, noting that ACP Manga admitted to having previously prosecuted Tijan Khan and later accepting professional fees from him.
The organization said it would submit a formal complaint to the relevant authorities, insisting that transparency and accountability must prevail in a case that touches the core of public trust in anti-corruption institutions.
