Ms ZAINAB SHERIFF V THE STATE OF SIERRA LEONE: "FREEDOM", "JUSTICE" AND THE MISSING POINT OF "UNITY"! (By Israel Ojekeh Parper Snr.)
FREE ZAINAB SHERIFF: SHE HAS NO CASE TO ANSWER. Ms. Zainab Sheriff - The accused 1. Opening Position. The public deserves clarity and honesty: the charges brought against Ms. Zainab Sheriff are not only legally weak, they are fundamentally inconsistent with the principles of fairness, proportionality, and democratic expression. She is charged with INCITEMENT (contrary to law) and using Threatening Language contrary to section 30 (1) Public Order Act 1965. She had appeared in Court No 1 in Freetown presided over by Magistrate Mustapha Brima Jah, an ex soldier turned lawyer. Bail has twice been refused on the her two appearances in his court. Prior to the criminal charges, the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC), had imposed an Administrative Fine of NLe150,000 on her Political Party for the same statement holding the party responsible for a breach by its member. This case is not about protecting public order — i...