Popular entertainer and political activist Zainab Sheriff has been remanded in custody at the Female Correctional Facility in Freetown after being denied bail for the seventh consecutive time.

The latest ruling came during proceedings at the Freetown court on March 31, 2026, where the defense’s no-case submission was dismissed. The court ordered the defense to open its case, presenting Sheriff with two options: to comment on the charges or to lead witnesses. Sheriff chose to comment on the charges, an opportunity the court granted.

In her statement from the dock, Sheriff described herself as a patriotic Sierra Leonean with a strong love for her country. Addressing the charges, she noted that no victim or complainant had come forward and argued that the case was based solely on the police’s interpretation of a video she had made.

She maintained that her remarks at the Brima Attouga Mini Stadium in Freetown on January 31, 2026, were intended to deter election rigging and not to incite violence or insult anyone. She insisted that her statement should not be misinterpreted and emphasized that she does not support violence or extrajudicial killing. Sheriff reaffirmed that at this stage the State should protect her rather than prosecute her, underscoring her loyalty and commitment to protecting Sierra Leone’s constitution.

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The matter has been adjourned to April 7, 2026, for a further hearing.

Sheriff, a flagbearer aspirant of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) and chairperson of the “Wi Duti Lappa” movement—a civic organization promoting women’s empowerment and increased female political representation—was declared wanted by the Sierra Leone Police on February 13, 2026 . The charges stem from statements she allegedly made during an opposition APC meeting at the Brima Attouga Mini Stadium in Freetown on January 31, 2026.

According to prosecutors, Sheriff stated that anyone who rigs an election has stolen the people’s vote and should be killed because such an act constitutes treason. She also allegedly referred to the president as “a rigger”—remarks authorities considered to constitute incitement and threatening language under Section 30(1) of the Public Order Act of 1965.

Sheriff was arrested on February 20, 2026, outside the Royal Fitness Gym and Lor Restaurant in Freetown by officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). She was initially detained at the CID headquarters before being formally charged.

She appeared for the first time before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1 on February 23, 2026, where she pleaded not guilty to the charges. Despite a bail application by her defense team, the court denied bail and ordered her remanded at the Female Correctional Facility at Pademba Road Prison.

Subsequent bail applications were rejected on February 26, March 5, March 11, March 18, and March 25, 2026, marking five denials before the latest seventh refusal. During the March 11 hearing, the prosecution closed its case after presenting two witnesses, including a cyber analyst who testified that forensic examinations of a pen drive and an iPhone 15 Pro Max linked to Sheriff contained videos of the alleged statements . Screenshots and a transcription of the video were also tendered as evidence.

Sheriff’s case has drawn attention due to the contrasting treatment of a co-accused from the same political gathering. APC Secretary-General Lansana Dumbuya was arrested and charged with incitement and insulting conduct arising from the same January 31 rally . However, while Sheriff has been repeatedly denied bail, Dumbuya was granted bail five days after being remanded following his first court appearance on February 13, 2026.

The Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) also fined the APC NLe 350,000 (US$14,300) over the remarks made at the rally, a penalty the party paid.

Sheriff’s continued detention has prompted reactions from civil society, women’s rights groups, and public figures. The 50/50 Group, an organization advocating for women’s political participation in Sierra Leone, has called on the judiciary to grant Sheriff bail, arguing that the law generally presumes bail for offenses that do not involve serious crimes such as murder or treason.

Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr publicly criticized the detention, stating on her Facebook page that “freedom of speech must be applicable to everyone and the law must be consistently applied. Zainab O Sheriff’s continued detention is a serious cause for concern in a democracy”.

The Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ) has also demanded her release, stressing that justice should be administered fairly and without unnecessary delay. The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has called for the equal and fair application of the law and urged authorities to respect constitutional protections of freedom of expression.

The Office of the Entertainment Ambassador formally appealed to the Judiciary to grant Sheriff bail, emphasizing that “justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done — fairly, transparently, and without prejudice”.