Lawyers representing Admire Francess Bio Jalloh and her husband, Dauda Jalloh, alias Alhaji Dausy, have taken their legal battle to the High Court in Freetown, challenging Magistrate Brima Jah’s decision to commit the couple to stand trial on all 11 counts brought against them.

The couple, who remain on bail, were committed to the High Court by Magistrate Jah on August 24, 2026, after the court rejected a no-case submission filed by their defence team.

Lead Defence Counsel Melron C. Nicol-Wilson of Nicol-Wilson & Co. (Malaika Chambers) has now filed an application seeking an order of certiorari to quash the Magistrate’s decision and order committing the couple to the High Court for trial.

In the application filed on August 26, the defence argues that Magistrate Jah did not adequately consider the prosecution’s evidence or the arguments raised in the couple’s no-case submission.

Related News

The defence maintains that while the Magistrate identified the 11 counts, referred to evidence given by the prosecution’s three witnesses and considered submissions from both sides, he did not examine the individual counts separately or explain how the evidence established the essential elements of the alleged offences against either accused.

According to the lawyers, the Magistrate instead dealt with the issues generally before concluding that the couple had a case to answer.

The defence argues that such an approach failed to properly address the specific evidential deficiencies raised in their no-case submission, which was filed on August 10.

The lawyers are therefore asking the High Court to quash the Magistrate’s committal decision and issue a consequential order discharging Admire Bio Jalloh and Dauda Jalloh forthwith.

The defence has also asked the High Court to halt any further proceedings in the matter while the judicial review application is being determined.

If granted, the requested order would prevent the prosecution from taking further steps towards commencing the High Court trial, including filing formal charges or preparing an indictment, until the application is resolved.

The Jallohs’ legal challenge now places the High Court at the centre of the dispute over whether Magistrate Jah properly exercised his judicial authority in committing the couple to trial.

The High Court is yet to fix a hearing date for the application.

Until the matter is determined, the couple remain on bail as they challenge the decision that sent their 11-count case to the higher court.