Kemani Duggan, 23, also known as the drill rapper Bandokay and son of Mark Duggan, who was shot by police 13 years ago, has been sentenced to five years in prison for possessing a firearm.
Duggan admitted to having a Tokarev pistol and 22 rounds of ammunition with the intent to cause fear of violence. His associate, Abdou Bojang, 22, from Hackney, north London, also pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited firearm and ammunition without certification and received a five-year sentence.
The two, linked to a north London gang, were sentenced at the Old Bailey. The court heard that police raided Bojang’s parents’ flat in Hackney on March 21 of the previous year, discovering the firearm and ammunition in a JD Sports bag in the communal underground car park, along with two foot-long knives. Duggan’s DNA was found on the gun slide, and he was arrested at Gatwick Airport on January 13. A Snapchat photo of the gun and 23 rounds was found on his phone.
Before the gun was found, Bojang had messaged Duggan about police presence in his area. Diana Wilson, prosecuting, said Duggan, from Islington, north London, is a known drill artist and senior member of the Old Farm Boys (OFB) gang based in Tottenham’s Broadwater Farm Estate. Wilson noted that Duggan’s high profile, due to his success as a drill artist and being Mark Duggan’s son, made him a target for gang-related violence. Duggan claimed he had the firearm for self-defense.
Defense attorney Gregory Fishwick highlighted that Duggan’s lyrics reflect the long-term impact of his father’s death. Despite being seen primarily as his father’s son, Duggan aimed to distance himself from that image and be a “proper father” to his own son.
Judge Philip Katz KC acknowledged Duggan’s fear of being attacked due to his high profile and unfortunate life history. The defendants waved to supporters as they were taken from the dock.
Kemani Duggan was 11 years old when his father, Mark Duggan, was shot by police in Tottenham in August 2011. Armed officers intercepted the minicab Duggan was traveling in, believing he had a gun, which was later found seven meters away. Mark Duggan’s shooting sparked riots across several English cities for nearly a week.
