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A tense and dramatic scene unfolded at Pademba Road Magistrate Court No.1 in Freetown when Zainab B. Samura, the wife of the accused Joseph Kabia, alias “Manager,” was caught attempting to smuggle assorted drugs to her husband during his trial.
Kabia is facing seventeen charges, including forgery, possession of arms without a license, forgery of banknotes, unlawful concealment of ammunition, and other offences.
The incident occurred while Kabia was seated in the courtroom, awaiting the next stage of his trial. His wife, Zainab, arrived carrying a black handbag, which she seemed to have innocently placed near him. Inside the handbag was a white plastic bag, which she later attempted to slip unnoticed under her husband’s seat.
However, prison officers on duty, Madina Sesay and Isha Bundu, quickly noticed her suspicious behaviour and intervened. Upon retrieving the bag from under Kabia’s seat, the officers discovered it contained assorted prohibited drugs. The discovery caused an immediate stir in the courtroom, as onlookers realised the gravity of the breach.
Seeing the officers retrieve the bag, Kabia reportedly attempted to snatch it from them, almost leading to a physical confrontation. However, the officers quickly restrained him, preventing any escalation. Other visitors, including Mariama B. Sesay, watched in shock as the scene unfolded.
Zainab was immediately arrested and taken into police custody for further investigation. Police sources confirmed that she will face charges under the National Drug Control Act of 2008 for possession and attempted smuggling of prohibited drugs without lawful authority.
A senior officer emphasised that “court security must be vigilant at all times, as attempts like this endanger both the judicial proceedings and the safety of court staff and visitors.
Joseph Kabia remains in remand custody as he awaits his trial in the High Court. Meanwhile, investigations into his wife’s arrest are ongoing. Authorities have instructed that tighter security should be implemented to prevent attempts to smuggle prohibited items into courtrooms.
Eyewitnesses described the incident as tense and chaotic, noting that the audacity of trying to hide drugs under an accused person’s seat highlighted serious security gaps. The dramatic scene left many in the courtroom shaken and reinforced the importance of vigilance in judicial facilities.
This case serves as a stark reminder that even small actions by visitors can pose significant risks, and that court officers must remain alert to prevent contraband from entering court proceedings
