Mustapha Batchilly, former Chief Executive Officer of Banjul City Council (BCC), told the Local Government Commission of Inquiry on July 1, 2025, that Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe received a monthly fuel allocation of D60,000.
Batchilly explained the details of this allowance during his testimony. When asked about the Mayor’s fuel allocation, Batchilly said,
“The Mayor gets D15,000 monthly fuel allocation.”
However, Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez referred to the Mayor’s own testimony stating she received only D5,000, with D5,000 going to the protocol officer and the remaining D5,000 used for a utility vehicle. Batchilly responded,
“The Mayor’s Office gets D15,000.”
Asked about the protocol officer’s entitlement to fuel, Batchilly said,
“Anyone paid from grade 8 and above are entitled to fuel.”
When questioned whether the protocol officer, Marget Samba, was on grade 8 or above, Batchilly admitted,
“He is not sure.”
Regarding Samba’s appointment, Batchilly said Samba was brought in by the Mayor and appointed by BCC on contract. He added,
“Samba was not appointed by the Local Government Service Commission.”
Gomez challenged the legitimacy of this, pointing out there was no council endorsement document for Samba’s appointment. Batchilly could not provide such documentation.
Gomez stated,
“There is no position like Protocol Officer.”
Batchilly agreed the position was created to suit the Mayor’s interest.
Batchilly also discussed the Mayor’s two cars — an official car and a utility car — explaining,
“The utility car is for errands that are not official.”
Gomez pointed out a voucher showing two utility cars existed, but Batchilly could not explain why.
When asked who decided the D15,000 weekly fuel amount for the Mayor, Batchilly said,
“The Mayor gets D60,000 a month as fuel.”
Gomez said,
“Is that not too much?”
Batchilly replied,
“From which standpoint are you looking at from?”
Gomez answered,
“From the standpoint of abuse—D60,000 fuel a month is too much.”
Batchilly remained silent and did not object.
Gomez showed a voucher where the Mayor took D19,000 per week instead of D15,000. Batchilly explained,
“D15,000 is for a week but this time around, the Mayor demanded D19,000.”
Asked if he approved this despite knowing it was wrong, Batchilly said,
“There is no justification for this.”
Batchilly also confirmed the Mayor’s personal assistant, Binta Conteh, traveled with her to the United States in October 2022, a practice Batchilly said had not happened before Mayor Lowe’s election.
“When I joined the council in 1999 until now, these are things I have never seen,” he said.
Batchilly said the Mayor’s travels were mostly approved by the council through meeting minutes, but noted,
“If I say no, I am only going to attract crisis.”
He also said he thought there should be clearer rules on who can travel abroad representing the council.
Regarding payments related to REFELA (Network of Locally Elected Women of Africa), Batchilly said the BCC signed a Memorandum of Understanding to fund REFELA activities and pay allowances to REFELA staff.
“Based on the MoU,” Batchilly said when asked why the council funded REFELA.
However, Chairperson Jainaba Bah pointed out audit queries on unauthorized spending and questioned whether it was right to commit council funds in this way.
Batchilly acknowledged funds sometimes came from any available council account rather than a designated Women’s Empowerment Fund.
He also discussed a trip to Washington, D.C. where the Mayor’s personal assistant attended instead of the Mayor. Batchilly said,
“The decision to send Isatou Njie was entirely by the Mayor.”
Other questioned expenses included visa processing fees, community support payments, and upgrades to airline tickets, some of which were later refunded after audits.
Chairperson Bah expressed concern that the council was spending beyond its budget, leading to overdrafts.
Batchilly agreed,
“If you look at the pattern of expenditure, it is not decided by the administration. It is determined by the council itself and it is a challenge for us.”
Lead Counsel Gomez criticised Batchilly for approving payments based on urgent requests from the Mayor, pointing out that many vouchers showed the Mayor instructing him to approve amounts quickly.
Batchilly responded,
“I pay as directed.”
Gomez pressed Batchilly on why he allowed the Mayor to operate this way, and Batchilly said,
“The requests should have all been handled by the committees to provide recommendations rather than the Mayor receiving requests and then deciding the amount.”
The Commission will continue Batchilly’s testimony on July 2.
