By Kebba AF Touray
A high-profile parliamentary report on a controversial $30 million petroleum deal—suspected to involve Russian oil—is set to be debated on Monday, as lawmakers investigate allegations of tax evasion, illicit transactions, and potential financial losses to the state.
The inquiry, led by the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) and the Public Enterprises Committee (PEC), focuses on the sale of 36,953 metric tons of petroleum products by companies linked to offshore trading networks. The investigation has raised concerns about unregulated imports, with lawmakers questioning whether fuel shipments tied to Russian suppliers may have bypassed standard financial and tax procedures.
The probe was triggered last year when Alhagie Jawara, a National Assembly member from Lower Saloum, introduced a motion calling for scrutiny of petroleum sales by companies Apogee, Ultimate Beige Logistics, and Creed Energy Limited. The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) later flagged irregular financial activity linked to the fuel trade, including transactions through Ecobank and Access Bank Gambia Limited that allegedly circumvented proper oversight.
Authorities have also been investigating reports that individuals connected to the deal received monthly kickbacks of 600,000 dalasis, withdrawn from accounts linked to the fuel transactions. A key suspect, businessman Aurimas Steblys, was arrested last year for questioning, with intelligence reports recommending further scrutiny of his role in the deal.
The parliamentary session is expected to be heated, with lawmakers debating whether the petroleum trade—potentially involving discounted Russian oil—was conducted legally and whether additional financial oversight is needed. With fuel prices a growing concern for Gambians, the revelations could have lasting implications for economic policy and government accountability.
