THE STATE OF SIERRA LEONE Vs LANSANA DUMBUYA- SEC.GEN. OF APC

JUSTICE IN LIMBO AS MAGISTRATE FLEES FROM COURT!

MAGISTRATE MUSTAPHA BRIMA JAH RUN AWAY FROM COURT WITHOUT GIVING CLEAR COURT ADJOURNMENTS DATE: CLAIMS FEAR OF SEEING TOO MANY (105) DEFENSE LAWYERS IN COURT.

CULLED: (Photos added)

​“Today is a sad day for justice.”

The reported events surrounding the stalled trial of the APC Secretary General raise serious concerns about the integrity of due process in Sierra Leone. When a magistrate leaves the courtroom without properly adjourning the matter and without granting or formally denying bail, it creates confusion and undermines public confidence in the judicial system. Justice must not only be done — it must be seen to be done.

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Due process is the foundation of any functioning democracy. When legal proceedings appear irregular, incomplete, or influenced by external pressure, it sends a troubling signal to citizens. The perception that the judiciary may be compromised by political interference damages the credibility of the courts and weakens the rule of law.

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Many Sierra Leoneans are already deeply divided following the disputed 2023 elections and the formation of the Tripartite Committee. In such a fragile political climate, the courts should serve as a stabilizing institution — impartial, transparent, and fair. Instead, incidents like this risk reinforcing the belief that justice is selective or politically driven.

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It is particularly concerning when, on the international stage, calls are made for unity within Africa, reform of global institutions like the UN and AU, and collective responsibility among nations — while at home, political tensions appear to be deepening. True leadership begins with safeguarding democratic principles domestically. Unity cannot be preached abroad while division grows at home.

When citizens begin to feel that the judiciary has been reduced to a political tool, the consequences are severe: loss of trust, erosion of national cohesion, and a weakening of the very institutions meant to hold society together. A nation cannot thrive when its people no longer believe in the fairness of its own system.

This is indeed a sad moment — not just for one political party, but for the credibility of justice in Sierra Leone. What the country needs now is transparency, strict adherence to due process, and a recommitment to judicial independence. Without that, national reconciliation and peaceful coexistence will remain difficult to achieve.

Sierra Leone deserves better.

     MAGISTRATE RUNS AWAY

Eye witness summary from court

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PRESIDENT BIO IS PUSHING SIERRA LEONE BACK  TO WAR: The Remand of Lansana Dumbuya Signals worsening Political Crisis under SLPP’S dictatorship  

By Kabs Kanu

Sierra Leone’s democracy is facing one of its gravest tests since the end of the civil war. The remand in prison of opposition figure Lansana Dumbuya following his court appearance today is not merely a legal development — it is a political warning sign.

Dumbuya, Secretary General of the All People's Congress (APC), was remanded at Pademba Road Prison after being charged for statements made at a party rally in which he allegedly referred to President Julius Maada Bio as a “thief,” accusing him of stealing the 2023 elections.

In any healthy democracy, political rhetoric — even harsh, provocative, or offensive speech — is protected under the principle of freedom of expression. The decision to remand a senior opposition leader without bail over political speech raises serious concerns about the state of civil liberties and judicial independence in the country.

The SLPP has long criminalized  Political Dissent in Sierra Leone. President Bio has sent out trigger- happy security men and they have murdered over one hundred innocent 

people engaged in peaceful protests . 

The arrest and remand of Dumbuya reflect what many observers see as a growing pattern: the weaponization of state institutions against political opponents.

Freedom of speech is not designed to protect polite compliments. It exists precisely to protect dissent, criticism, and uncomfortable truths — especially when directed at those in power. When opposition leaders are jailed for their words at political rallies, the line between democracy and authoritarianism begins to blur.

Critics argue that under President Bio and the ruling Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), state institutions — including the police and sections of the judiciary — are increasingly perceived as instruments of political enforcement rather than neutral guardians of justice.

The denial of bail in a matter rooted in speech, rather than violence or national security, intensifies suspicion that the goal is not justice but intimidation.

The evidence of Power Abuse and Democratic Backsliding in Sierra Leone cannot be disputed . 

President Bio’s administration has repeatedly faced accusations of intolerance toward dissent. Civil society groups have documented incidents involving:

1. Arrests of opposition supporters

2. Heavy-handed policing of protests

3. Intimidation of critics and journalists

4. Selective enforcement of public order and cyber laws

Such actions erode public confidence in democratic institutions. Democracy depends not only on elections but on the protection of minority voices and opposition rights between elections. When the opposition cannot speak freely without fear of arrest, democratic competition becomes fundamentally unequal.

The Controversial 2023 Elections will haunt Maada Bio to his grave. The controversy surrounding the June 2023 presidential election remains a central fault line in Sierra Leone’s politics. The APC rejected the results announced by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone, alleging irregularities and lack of transparency in the tabulation process.

International partners also expressed concern over the handling of electoral data and called for greater transparency. The dispute deepened political polarization and led to calls for electoral reform and independent review.

It was within this context that Dumbuya’s remarks were made. For many in the opposition, accusations of electoral theft are political opinion shaped by unresolved grievances. For the state to respond with imprisonment rather than dialogue only hardens divisions.

What is going on in Sierra Leone has provoked International Backlash and Regional Concern. 

Sierra Leone’s democratic trajectory has drawn increasing scrutiny from the international community and regional partners such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Following post-election tensions, international actors emphasized the need for dialogue, transparency, and respect for human rights. Sierra Leone, once praised for its post-war democratic recovery, now risks reputational damage if perceptions of repression continue to grow.

No democracy thrives in isolation. International confidence affects foreign investment, development partnerships, and diplomatic standing.

Making matters worse is a Judiciary at a Crossroads.  The judiciary’s handling of politically sensitive cases is critical to public trust. When courts appear aligned with executive interests — particularly in cases involving opposition figures — citizens begin to question the independence of the justice system. In the streets of Sierra Leone, word is that President Bio has bought the judiciary and they are in his pockets. 

The remand of Lansana Dumbuya is therefore more than a personal ordeal. It is a test of whether Sierra Leone’s courts will uphold constitutional protections or reinforce political power structures.

The SLPP remains a very lawless party operating in impunity. Democracy Requires Tolerance

Democracy is noisy. It is confrontational. It is uncomfortable. Where do the SLPP get the notion that politics is non - conflictual ? The problem with the SLPP is that they cannot stand criticism .  Leaders who claim democratic legitimacy must also accept democratic criticism. Arresting opposition figures for rhetoric delivered at party rallies signals fragility, not strength.

If Sierra Leone is to safeguard its democratic gains, it must: Protect freedom of expression : Ensure equal application of the law:  Guarantee judicial independence

and Promote political dialogue over repression

The remand of the APC Secretary General has become a symbol of a deeper democratic abuse . Whether this moment marks further decline or a turning point toward reform depends on the choices made now by those in power.

Even some of us in the media are being threatened for speaking out. Let the SLPP know that History will judge not the critics — but how power responded to criticism.