By Janet A. Sesay
Lead Defence Counsel in the case of the National Secretary General of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party, Afrikanus Sesay during the last hearing of the matter at the Freetown Magistrate Court No. 1 presided over by Principal Magistrate, Briama Jah, successfully applied for an adjournment in order to present a no-case submission on behalf the Defendant, Lansana Dumbuya.
Dumbuya, a 54-year old politician and lawyer, is on trial before Principal Magistrate Briama Jah on three count charges including: incitement contrary to law; insulting language contrary to Section 2 of the Public Order Act 1965 and behaving in an insulting manner contrary to Section 12(a) of the same Act, as amended by the Public Order (Amendment) Act 1973.
According to the particulars of offence, on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Brima Attouga Mini Stadium, the accused allegedly made statements encouraging supporters to chant that the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, was a thief.
Count two further alleges that on the same date and location, Dumbuya used insulting language to the annoyance of the Regional Operations Officer for Freetown East, Francis Momodu Tommy.
On count three, the prosecution claims that the accused behaved in an insulting manner in a public place by encouraging supporters to repeat the same chant against the President.
Following the Defence’s application for an adjournment to file a no-case submission, the Prosecution did not object.
In his ruling, Magistrate Jah stated that having heard the application and noting the absence of any objection from the Prosecution, the court would grant the request.
The matter was adjourned to April 2, 2026, for further proceedings, with bail continuing for the defendant.
Other members of the Defence Team include: Manley Spaine, B. Koroma, R.S. Bangura, and A. Madie.