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Prominent lawyer Basita Michael has publicly endorsed calls for the granting of bail to APC National Secretary General, Lansana Dumbuya, stressing that constitutional rights must not be applied selectively.
In a statement issued following remarks by Alie Kabba, Michael stated that although she does not personally know him, it was important to acknowledge his position at a time when, in her view, “the detention of political opponents is treated like political achievement.”
She commended Kabba for reminding those in authority that bail is not a favour but a constitutional right that carries no party colours. According to her, granting bail represents the minimum obedience a government owes to its own laws, adding that justice should not be postponed until after punishment.
Michael noted that Lansana Dumbuya is a senior colleague with whom she has often appeared on opposite sides in court. However, she emphasized that this professional rivalry underscores the principle at stake. “Rights are not reserved for people we agree with,” she stated, adding that once a right becomes selective, it ceases to be a right at all.
Her remarks came in response to a recent public statement by Alie Kabba, who also called for bail to be granted to Dumbuya while his matter proceeds before the courts.
Reflecting on his own experience in 2015 under the administration of former President Ernest Bai Koroma, Kabba recounted being arrested and denied bail before being detained at Pademba Road Prison. He described the episode as a grave abuse of state power, alleging that constitutional principles were set aside at the time.
Kabba further referenced that some members of the All People’s Congress, including Lawyer Alieu Iscandari, spoke out against what he termed injustice during his detention, while supporters of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) demanded fairness.
Drawing parallels to the present, Kabba noted that Lansana Dumbuya is currently detained at Pademba Road Prison on allegations including insulting President Julius Maada Bio. While condemning Dumbuya’s alleged actions, Kabba maintained that bail should be granted as a constitutional safeguard, emphasizing that bail is neither acquittal nor endorsement but an affirmation of due process and the rule of law.
He urged that Dumbuya be allowed to face his day in court, arguing that by virtue of his public office and standing, he does not pose a flight risk. Kabba further called on the SLPP to uphold constitutional order, democratic maturity, and national unity.
