By: Alimatu Kargbo
APC Secretary General made his third appearance before Magistrate Mustapha Briama Jah of the oademba road court No. 1 Freetown.
Several defence lawyers, including S.K. Koroma, A. Sesay, B. Koroma, B.S. Kamara, M. Sesay, R.S. Bangura, F. Mansaray, S. Bangura and F.M. Koroma, appeared in court on behalf of the accused as the trial continued.
State Counsel Yusuf Isaac Sesay called the first prosecution witness, Detective Police Constable 13105 Abdulai Dumbuya, attached to the Cyber Crime Unit at CID Headquarters. The witness told the court that his primary responsibility is to monitor cyberspace and investigate cyber-related offences.
Dumbuya said he recognised the accused in the dock and recalled that on Saturday, 31st January 2026, during routine monitoring of social media platforms, the Cyber Crime Unit discovered a video in which the accused allegedly made statements that attracted their attention and prompted an investigation. He stated that the video was retrieved, downloaded and secured on an external drive for further analysis.
He further testified that on Sunday, 1st February 2026, the Unit received a report from the Regional Commander, Freetown East, Francis Tommy, concerning activities held at Atugar Stadium. The report was tendered in court as Exhibit A.
Following the receipt of the report, a query file was opened.
According to the witness, on Tuesday, 2nd February 2026, the accused was invited via telephone but failed to report. On 3rd February 2026, a request for examination and transcriptional analysis of the pen drive containing the video was sent to the Cyber Analyst. The analysis was later produced and tendered as Exhibit B.
Dumbuya told the court that on Wednesday, 4th February 2026, the accused reported to CID Headquarters accompanied by his legal team, including Mr. Africanus Sorie Sesay and others. He said that together with Inspector A.S. Kamara, ASP Mohamed Amara and ASP Kabba Lavale, they obtained cautionary statements from the accused.
During the interview, the accused reportedly provided a written statement dated 4th February 2026 titled “Statement to the CID Police,” which was signed by him and tendered as Exhibit C. The witness said the video in question was played several times in the presence of the accused, who allegedly identified himself as the spokesperson in the footage.
He added that the accused was cautioned and questioned in English, and the statement was read over in the presence of his legal team. The accused admitted the contents to be true and correct and affixed his right thumbprint. Inspector A.S. Kamara signed as witness, while Dumbuya signed as the recorder.
On 5th February 2026, the Cyber Crime Unit received a forensic report from the Cyber Analyst titled “System and Data Analysis of Mobile Phone Device and Transcription of Pen Drive in an Alleged Case of Incitement,” which was dated the same day.
The witness further stated that on 12th February 2026, the accused was formally charged with incitement, insulting language and behaving in an insulting manner. He said the accused was again cautioned and questioned in English, and after the statement was read over in the presence of his lawyers, he admitted it to be correct and signed it.
During cross-examination led by S.K. Koroma, the witness confirmed that he obtained statements from the accused. It was put to him that no statement was obtained in the presence of the Inspector General of Police, but he responded that a report was received and the accused was duly cautioned and questioned.
When asked whether there was a complainant in the matter, the witness said there was one. He read the alleged inciting statement in court, referring to the phrase “Maada Bio Tifitifi.” However, he admitted that he did not confront any member of the public regarding the alleged incitement, as the statement was contained in a video.
Under further questioning, he said he was not aware of any breach of peace resulting from the alleged statement but maintained that the offence charged had the tendency to incite. He testified that the alleged insulting words were directed at the President of Sierra Leone, and that Regional Commander Francis Tommy was reportedly offended by the remarks.
When asked whether he interviewed ASP Francis Tommy about how the comments affected him, the witness said he could not recall. He also confirmed that he did not personally inform the President about the alleged remarks and could not say whether the President was aware before the matter was charged to court
The witness further stated under cross-examination that at the time of the statement, the accused was serving as the APC National Secretary General and was addressing a party congress in that capacity.
Meanwhile, the matter was adjourned to the 5th March 2026 and bail continue for the accused.
