A 21-year-old Nigerian national, Ibrahim Bello, is currently in police custody after being charged with illegally entering Sierra Leone without a valid permit, a court in Freetown has been told.

Bello, an unemployed resident of Lagos, Nigeria, is scheduled to appear before Magistrate Salamatu A. Jalloh at the Pademba Road Court No. 8, where he faces two counts under the Non-Citizen (Registration, Immigration, and Expulsion) Act.

The charges include entering Sierra Leone without a permit, contrary to Section 16(1) of the Act of 1964 (Act No. 14 of 1965), and willfully disregarding obligations imposed under Section 18 of the same legislation, contrary to Section 36(c).

According to court records, the accused was apprehended on Monday, 29 December 2025, at Tombo Wharf, off Waterloo in the Western Area of Freetown, while allegedly entering the country without a reasonable explanation for his visit and without the requisite immigration permit.

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Police further alleged that Bello deliberately failed to comply with the obligations set out in the Registration, Immigration, and Expulsion Act of 1965.

During the proceedings, the prosecution informed the court that the accused remains in police custody and assured the bench of his availability at the next hearing.

Magistrate Jalloh adjourned the matter to 26 January 2026 for further hearing.