By Janet A. Sesay
Yeabu Zainab Sheriff made her fifth appearance before Magistrate Briama Jah of Magistrate Court No. 1 in Freetown as the Prosecution sought for a short adjournment date after the defendant indicated that she would rely on her earlier statement made to the police.
The defendant is before the court over alleged inciting statements reportedly made at the Brima Attouga Mini Stadium in Freetown.
Zainab Sheriff was arraigned on charges of incitement contrary to law and threatening language contrary to Section 30(1) of the Public Order Act of 1965.
According to the police, on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Brima Attouga Mini Stadium within the Freetown Judicial District, the defendant allegedly made inciting statements encouraging the killing of individuals accused of election rigging.
Police further alleged that the defendant made statements to the effect that: “clearly election don-don and you nor get more money than me, you rogue election and cheat a whole eight million people dem and kill people dem and send dem go jail, we go send message say nobody nor go cheat an entire eight million people and proudly go free.”
During proceedings, Lead Defence Counsel, Roland S.V. Wright referred the court to Section 115(d), stating that the defendant has the right to either remain silent or rely on her statement made to the police. He informed the court that the defendant had opted to rely on her police statement and would not be making a no-case submission.
The court registrar outlined three options available to the defendant: to make a no-case submission, to testify on oath, or to rely on her statement to the police.
In response, Prosecutor Yusuf Isaac Sesay Esq. argued that the section cited by the defence was not applicable in a summary trial, instead referencing Section 105 of the Criminal Procedure Act. He maintained that the defendant, having pleaded not guilty, was required to respond to the charges and proceed with her defence.
He further submitted that all prosecution witnesses had been cross-examined and that the defendant’s statement was already before the court. He argued that by not making a no-case submission, the defence had effectively indicated readiness to proceed, and urged the court to allow the matter to continue.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Magistrate Mustapha Braima-Jah adjourned the matter to March 25, 2026.
The defendant was represented by a team of lawyers including: Roland S.V. Wright, B. Michael, R.S. Bangura, H.D. Timbo, M. Sesay, J. Bayoh, M. Jalloh, S. Bai Sesay, A.B. Marrah, M. Conteh, and M.N. Bah.