BY ALIE BADARA IN BO.
A bench warrant was issued on Friday for popular Sierra Leonean rapper Alhaji Amadu Bah, widely known by his stage name LAJ-after he failed to appear before Magistrate Court No. 1 in Bo on charges stemming from an alleged public assault against Kenema City Council Mayor Thomas Karimu Baio.
The dispute originated after the end of the recent holy month of Ramadan, when LAJ was scheduled to perform a concert tour across the Southeast, including a stop in Kenema.
Rumors circulated on social media that Mayor Baio had warned the Rapper not to enter Kenema for a show and that he would otherwise “get him initiated into a porch society.
“A local newsroom’s background checks found those specific allegations against the mayor to be baseless and Untrue, characterising them as misinformation that had not been properly verified.
According to court papers and eyewitness accounts, trouble escalated after a concert held at Bo’s Coronation Field in Kakua Chiefdom, Bo District.
Video footage that circulated online reportedly shows LAJ sending a message to Mayor Baio in which the mayor was called a bastapekin.”
That conduct prompted the mayor to seek legal redress in Bo-the jurisdiction where the alleged incident took place.
Counsel for the complainant, Mohamed Monya Sheriff, Esq, of Kakua Chambers, said an affidavit of service was filed and served ahead of Friday’s hearing. Despite that, LAJ failed to appear in court. Mayor Baio attended as scheduled.
Magistrate Solomon James Brima subsequently issued a bench warrant for LAJ’s arrest and adjourned the matter to April 1, 2026.
Prosecutors argued that the rapper’s conduct was deliberate, rude, and unacceptable-particularly because LAJ has previously been identified publicly as a peace ambassador.
“A person with such public profile should be preaching peace rather than raining insult on state personalities, “the lead prosecutor told the court, urging enforcement of a warrant.
The hearing drew a mixed crowd to the Bo courthouse. Supporters of Mayor Baio and ordinary onlookers were present, along with visible supporters of LAJ identified with the Red Flag Movement (RFM).
Police presence was strong and carefully coordinated. Assistant Inspector General of Police (South), Andrew Mustapha Kamara, said security arrangements were put in place because LAJ is a significant crowd-puller nationwide.
Placards carried by demonstrators outside the courthouse included a range of messages; one prominent Placard called on the President of Sierra Leone to relieve LAJ of any peace-ambassador role, declaring, “We don’t want cuss cuss ambassador.
Next steps
Magistrate Court No. 1 in Bo will reconvene on April 1st, 2026 , for further proceedings.
If the bench warrant is executed and LAJ is brought before the court, the matter will proceed according to the provisions of criminal procedure and local law.
Context and implications
The case highlights how quickly allegations can spread on social media and how those allegations can escalate into formal legal action.
It also raises questions about the responsibilities of public figures-both elected officials and entertainers-in a society where musicians can be powerful influencers.
The involvement of a nationapeace ambassadoror figure in a public dispute has drawn widespread attention and a strong public reaction across Sierra Leone.
Corrections and balance
This article reports claims made by both sides and information gathered by a local newsroom.
Allegations that Mayor Baio threatened to have LAJ “initiated into a poroh society “were found by that newsroom to be unfounded; the mayor has denied those specific claims.
LAJ did not appear in court on March 27 and has not yet been heard in Bo Magistrate Court No. 1 regarding these allegations.
The court will determine the legal outcome.