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Lawyers representing Sierra Leonean rapper Alhaji Amadu Bah, popularly known as LAJ, have formally written to the court claiming that their client was never officially served with any criminal summons in an ongoing case before the Bo Magistrate Court.
In a letter dated March 27, 2026, and addressed to the District Assistant Registrar of the Bo High Court, legal representatives from Madieu Sesay & Associates stated that they were “reliably informed and verily believe” that criminal summons had been issued against LAJ and co-accused Ibrahim Koroma.
However, they emphasized that neither the lawyers nor their clients had received any formal or lawful notice prior to reports circulating on social media.
The letter, signed by Managing Partner Madieu Sesay, noted that the first awareness of the proceedings came through “various reports circulating on social media,” rather than through official court channels.
According to the lawyers, the summons were not personally served on their clients as required by law. Instead, they claim an affidavit filed in court alleged that service was carried out via the messaging platform WhatsApp. The legal team rejected this method, stating that their clients “categorically” deny receiving any such summons through the application.
The lawyers further argued that serving criminal summons through WhatsApp or any electronic or social media platform is “neither a prescribed nor recognised mode of service” under Sierra Leone’s Criminal Procedure Act 2024. They cited provisions in the law which, they say, mandate personal service of summons on a defendant.
The letter also pointed out jurisdictional concerns, stating that LAJ and his co-accused reside in Freetown, outside the jurisdiction of the Bo Magistrate Court. In such cases, the lawyers argued, the law requires that service be carried out through a magistrate within the defendant’s area of residence. They maintained that no such process was followed.
As a result, the legal team described the affidavit of service filed in the case as “irregular, invalid, and of no legal effect,” adding that any proceedings based on such service would be “a nullity.”
The lawyers have called on the court registrar to urgently bring the matter to the attention of the presiding magistrate and to ensure that no further steps are taken in the case until proper legal service is effected in accordance with the law.
The case, referenced as PCS/26 and involving a complaint by Thomas Baio, remains before the Bo Magistrate Court. As of the time of reporting, there has been no official response from the court authorities regarding the claims made in the letter.
