Sylvia Blyden Welcomes Release of Lansana Dumbuya, Says APC Adopts Her Legal Brief at PPRC Hearing

Former Minister and APC stalwart Sylvia Olayinka Blyden has welcomed the release of Lansana Dumbuya, while calling on the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) to take full oversight of the matter and appealing to the Sierra Leone Police to withdraw the politician’s file from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

In a statement shared on her Facebook page, Blyden said she was pleased by Dumbuya’s release and referenced provisions of Section 39(3) of the Political Parties Act, 2022, noting that her appeal was grounded in respect for due process and political oversight.

She further disclosed that during a PPRC hearing on the extension of the APC executives’ tenure, the party’s National Advisory Committee (NAC) formally adopted her Amicus Curiae legal brief as part of the APC’s official position on the issue.

According to Blyden, the disclosure was made by APC National Chairman, Ambassador Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh, who was leading the party’s delegation at the hearing. She described the decision as a significant development and expressed appreciation to the party’s leadership.

Blyden also reflected on her previous legal battles, stating that she has, on two occasions, pointed out what she described as legal defects in court documents filed by Attorneys General appointed under the administration of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio. She cited the 2020 seditious libel case filed against her and a recent High Court filing, which she claims failed to comply with procedural requirements under the High Court Rules.

On a broader note, Blyden accused the current government of what she termed persistent intimidation and harassment, warning against underestimating her resolve. She stressed that her past experiences in court and detention had strengthened her commitment to defending herself through legal and constitutional means.

Describing the courts as “sacred arenas where law, truth, and conscience meet,” Blyden maintained that she would continue to assert her rights and defend her dignity within the rule of law.