Two Men Committed to High Court Over Alleged Knowledge of Treason Plot

Two men accused of concealing knowledge of an alleged plot against the state, former ward coordinator Mohamed Sanu and Pastor Kelly Marrah, now face an anxious wait behind bars after a magistrate ruled that their case must proceed to the High Court.

The decision, handed down on Monday, November 10, 2025, by Magistrate Mustapha Briama Jah of Freetown Magistrate Court No. 1, follows weeks of tense hearings. The ruling means both men will now stand trial for misprision of treason, one of the most serious offences under Sierra Leonean law, punishable by lengthy imprisonment.

The prosecution, led by State Counsel Yusuf Isaac Sesay, argued that the accused men knew about treasonous acts allegedly planned by Daniel Keleh Mansaray (alias Ceaser) and others between November 2023 and July 2025, but chose to remain silent.

“We have closed our case after presenting multiple witnesses,” Sesay told the court, emphasizing that “sufficient evidence” had been provided to move forward.

In a calm but firm tone, Magistrate Jah ruled that the state had established enough grounds for trial.

“The evidence before this court is sufficient to raise a prima facie case,” he said, before ordering that Sanu and Marrah remain in custody at the Male Correctional Facility.

Family members of the accused, present in court, appeared visibly shaken by the decision. Supporters of both men maintain their innocence, describing them as “law-abiding citizens caught in political crossfire.”

For now, the accused will await the announcement of a High Court trial date, which will determine whether the allegations hold or collapse under closer scrutiny.