By Kebba AF Touray
Haddy Dandeh Jabbi, Company Secretary of Apogee Gambia Limited, appeared before the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Finance and Public Accounts (FPAC) and the Public Enterprises Committee (PEC) on Tuesday, 22 April 2025, to provide testimony regarding the controversial importation of 36,953.614 metric tons of petroleum products, valued at over US$30 million—approximately D2.1 billion.
Jabbi, a seasoned legal professional specializing in civil, corporate, and real estate law, was summoned to explain her role in the incorporation of Apogee Gambia Limited and the company’s connection to Apogee FZE, a United Arab Emirates-based firm that holds a 99% share in the Gambian entity. She clarified that she was first contacted by a man named Aurimas, who represented Apogee FZE during the registration of Apogee Gambia Limited in January 2024. Jabbi revealed that she assumed the role of Company Secretary following the withdrawal of the company’s initial legal representative, the late Ann Revitin.
Under questioning, Jabbi confirmed that Apogee Gambia Limited was established to operate within the petroleum sector and had applied for operational licences from the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA). However, she stated that, to her knowledge, the company had not commenced operations. She further emphasized that as Company Secretary, she was not involved in the daily affairs of the firm.
The committee pressed Jabbi on whether she had conducted due diligence on Apogee FZE or Aurimas. She admitted that she had not done so independently, relying instead on official documents—including a business registration certificate and certificate of good standing—submitted to the Registrar of Companies. “There was nothing on the face of the documents to suggest the company was not credible,” Jabbi stated, noting that all registration requirements were met under Gambian law.
Jabbi described the shareholding structure of Apogee Gambia Limited, detailing that the company’s D1,000 share capital was split into 100 shares, with 99 held by Apogee FZE and one share held by Aurimas. When questioned about meetings held since the company’s incorporation, she acknowledged only one extraordinary general meeting conducted virtually on 2 February 2024, attended solely by herself and Aurimas.
She told the committee she was not aware of any returns filed by the company at the end of 2024. In response to whether she held any other positions within the company, she confirmed that she only serves as Company Secretary, primarily responsible for issuing notices of meetings.
Before concluding her testimony, the joint committee instructed Jabbi to submit several key documents, including:
- The resolution of the company’s extraordinary meeting;
- The corporate memoir of Apogee FZE;
- A certificate of good character for Aurimas;
- The physical address and contact details of Aurimas.
The inquiry forms part of a broader investigation into the handling and oversight of petroleum imports linked to foreign entities operating in The Gambia, amid growing scrutiny over transparency, regulatory compliance, and due diligence within the petroleum sector.
