Bai Mahmoud Bangura, the Organising Secretary of the All Peoples Congress (APC) party and Former Minister of Youth, has been instructed to attend the forthcoming court hearing following his consecutive absence, citing illness.

Defense lawyers substantiated his claim with a medical report, causing a significant setback in the ongoing trial involving Amadu Koita Makalu and eleven others before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Magistrate Court No 2.

The accused, currently facing trial for an attempted coup in Freetown on November 26, 2023, include individuals such as Amadu Koita Makalu, Mohamed Jalloh, Sergeant Mohamed Sallue Kamara, Ramatu Kamanda Conteh, Alimatu Hassan Bangura, Hassan Leigh, Mohamed Wurrie, Bai Mahmoud Bangura, ASP Ibrahim Sesay, Tamba Yamba, Kabba Kamara, and Abdul Sorie Hassan Kamara. Defense lawyer A. N. Sesay presented Bai Mahmoud’s medical report, emphasizing his inability to attend court.

Acknowledging the report, lead prosecution lawyer A. G. M Bockarie questioned its authenticity, requesting the defense lawyers to produce the author for verification. Bockarie stressed the accused’s absence before the court, urging Magistrate Bangura to compel Bai Mahmoud’s presence on the next adjourned date. The defense, under the guidance of Ady Macaulay, also requested access for lawyers to communicate with the accused persons within correctional facilities.

In response, Magistrate Santigie Bangura ordered Bai Mahmoud’s appearance in court for the next adjournment, aiming to assess his fitness for trial. Additionally, he directed correctional centers to facilitate access for defense lawyers to communicate with their clients, underscoring the importance of ensuring the accused are adequately fed. The magistrate advised correctional officers to consider the accused as suspects until proven guilty by the court.