By Yankuba Jallow
A prominent businessman has demanded a refund of D35 million from the Banjul City Council (BCC) following a failed land transaction that he says involved high-ranking officials including Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe and exposed serious irregularities in the way land was allocated, sold, and paid for in the capital.
Nandkishore Rajwani, widely known as Nando, told the Local Government Commission of Inquiry on Thursday, 10th July 2025, that he paid over D20 million to secure a plot of land which was later revealed not to belong to the BCC. He said the payments were made in phases — some through open cheques — and that he had several direct dealings with Mayor Lowe, whom he claimed was fully aware of the payments and even demanded an additional D5 million.
“Whatever happened, I want to recover my money,” Nando said, as he sat before the Commission flanked by his legal counsel.
The Commission, which was set up to investigate the financial and administrative conduct of local councils between May 2018 and January 2023, has already heard testimonies exposing mismanagement, alleged corruption, and abuse of office.
Nando said he was approached by Charbel Elhajj, a man who claimed he had been allocated a piece of land by the BCC. Charbel allegedly offered to sell the land to Nando, who agreed and made an initial payment of D2 million.
“Charbel told me he had an allocation. He sold the land to me. I saw the land,” Nando said.
However, when shown the documents Charbel used to support his claim, Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez pointed out that there was no evidence of a formal allocation.
“We did not see an allocation. We saw a letter, but it did not say he was allocated,” Gomez said.
Nando initially maintained that he saw what he believed was a legitimate allocation. But former BCC CEO Mustapha Batchilly had earlier testified that Charbel was never formally allocated land — rather, he was only informed of a possible decision to allocate.
Despite the unclear legal status of the land, Nando said he continued making payments. He entered into an agreement with Charbel’s firm, C-Consulting, to pay D15 million for the land, spread over four instalments. Nando also signed an agreement with the BCC and he was issued a lease. But Nando said he eventually paid up to D20 million.
Nando faced challenge to possess the first land the BCC allocated him behind the National Assembly. It was during this process that Nando claimed the Mayor got directly involved. It was during this process that Nando claimed the Mayor got directly involved.
“Charbel told me that the Mayor said I need to pay D5 million. I met the Mayor with Charbel, and she confirmed it,” Nando testified.
“I went to her office three to four times,” he added.
Nando said that after each payment, he would inform the Mayor by phone.
“When I pay, I used to call her over the phone and tell her I have paid this, and she will say ‘okay, okay’,” Nando said.
“Whenever I give money to Charbel, I will call the Mayor and tell her about it. She will always say ‘okay’.”
One of the most troubling aspects of the testimony was the use of open cheques. Nando said he was asked by Charbel — allegedly on instruction from BCC insiders — to write cheques without specifying a payee.
“They said I should give them open cheque so they can easily withdraw the cash at the bank,” Nando said.
“Charbel knows how to sort them [BCC officials] out,” he added.
“Why did you not pay directly to the BCC?” Gomez asked.
“It was a mutual understanding between me and Charbel,” Nando answered.
Gomez reminded Nando that Charbel had testified earlier that he did not receive the full amount. Nando promised to provide proof of payments and receipts by the following Monday.
“We have all the proof of payments,” Nando said.
Nando said the original land was located near the National Assembly. But he was later blocked by the Department of Physical Planning from developing the land. He said he approached BCC for an explanation but received none.
“At that time, I had already paid D20 million,” he said.
On 5 April 2023, Nando’s lawyer, Ida D. Drame and Associates, wrote to BCC after it became clear that the land did not belong to the Council. The National Environment Agency (NEA) confirmed it would not grant clearance for land use. The lawyer asked BCC to provide an alternative plot.
It was at this stage that BCC moved Nando to Bond Road, and he was again asked by Charbel to pay D5 million — this time using another open cheque.
On 26 April 2023, Nando’s lawyer wrote again to the CEO of BCC, reminding them of the matter and the payments made.
Nando said despite all these efforts, he never got possession of either the original land or the alternative.
“The Mayor said if I cannot get Bond Road, she is going to reassign me to another land,” he said.
In a letter dated 29 September 2022, Nando’s lawyer wrote to the BCC and said the NEA had denied their application for clearance. The lawyer accused the Council of misrepresentation, saying the land never belonged to BCC.
She demanded a refund of D35 million, which included the purchase price and the cost of the investment Nando had already made.
“But you did not pay BCC D35 million?” Gomez asked.
“Whatever happened, I want to recover my money,” Nando said.
“Did the BCC know you paid D20 million for the land?” Gomez asked.
“They know everything,” Nando replied.
“They issued me the lease, and they knew what they were doing.”
Nando also said he was introduced to the Mayor after making the initial D2 million payment. His additional statement dated 20 November 2024, which was admitted into evidence, confirmed that he met the Mayor and CEO, and made more payments afterward.
“She [the Mayor] knows about it. I used to inform her,” Nando repeated.
“She knows everything.”
