Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Kanifing Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday heard detailed testimony from a nurse at the Mandinary Health Centre, shedding light on the final moments of Omar Badjie, the young man whose death in police custody has sparked public concern.
Muhammad Jaiteh, a registered nurse midwife and officer-in-charge of the Mandinary Health Centre, testified about the events of September 22, 2025, when police brought an unconscious Omar Badjie for treatment.
Jaiteh, who has served eight years in the health service, told the court that he received a call from nurses on duty around 10:00 a.m. reporting that a patient had been brought in by police. “When I arrived at the outpatient department, I found the patient unconscious and unresponsive to both calls and touch,” he said.
He explained that an initial assessment showed Omar was alive but in critical condition. “We checked his blood pressure, temperature, respiration, and oxygen level; the signs of life were there, but very low,” Jaiteh testified. The medical team immediately placed Omar on oxygen, inserted an IV line, and monitored him for about 30 minutes, but his condition did not improve.
Jaiteh said he contacted the officer in charge of the Brikama Health Centre to request an ambulance, while laboratory tests revealed dangerously low blood sugar and hemoglobin levels. “When we saw the sugar level was down, I instructed my team to give him 50% glucose,” he told the court.
He said he documented all medical interventions and prepared a referral note for transfer to the Kanifing General Hospital. Before the ambulance arrived, Jaiteh asked the police officers accompanying Omar what had happened.
“They told me they were on patrol when they saw him with cannabis. He ran, jumped several fences, and they later found him lying under a tree before bringing him to the health center,” Jaiteh recounted.
Around 1:10 p.m., shortly before the ambulance’s arrival, Jaiteh said he rechecked Omar’s vital signs and noticed a slight improvement in oxygen levels, though he remained unconscious.
Nurse Sunkary Demba was assigned to accompany the patient, along with two family members and a police officer, to the Kanifing General Hospital.
“While they were on their way, Nurse Demba called from Tabokoto to say the patient had passed away,” Jaiteh said. He added that he advised her to proceed to Kanifing for official confirmation and preservation of the body before notifying his supervisor of the death.
During proceedings, Magistrate Anna O. Mendy requested that Omar’s medical record, known as the patient folder, be certified and submitted as evidence. The document, detailing all treatment steps and observations, was admitted and marked as Exhibit OB 11.
The case has been adjourned to Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. for continuation of hearings.
