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Five individuals, including a teacher and a human resource officer, have been remanded in custody in Freetown over an alleged plot to assassinate Madam Musayaroh Barrie, the Director General of the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA)
Awoko reports that the accused – Albert Sheriff Soloku (43, teacher), Foday Turay (33, businessman), Musa Kamara (32, unemployed), Augustine Rashid Kelfal Josiah (45, Human Resource Coordinator), and Kadiatu Kamara (44, unemployed) – appeared before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Court No. 2 on Pademba Road. They face one count of attempted murder.
According to police reports, the alleged incident transpired on Friday, April 18, 2025, in Freetown. The prosecution alleges that the accused conspired to assassinate Madam Barrie and disrupt operations at the Freetown International Airport in Lungi.
During the court proceedings, the accused did not enter any pleas.
Commissioner of Police (CP) Joan Bull, leading the prosecution, called Madam Barrie as the first prosecution witness. In her testimony, Barrie identified all five accused as former staff members of a ministry where she previously served as Minister.
Barrie informed the court that she received intelligence through social media, indicating that the accused, along with unidentified individuals, were plotting her assassination and planning to sabotage airport operations. She stated that the audio and video messages she received caused her to fear for her life and the security of the airport.
As part of her testimony, Madam Barrie confirmed that she had submitted the digital evidence to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and tendered it to the court, assuring that she would provide further material when required.
Following her testimony, CSP Bull requested the court to allow an Information Technology (IT) specialist to be present at the next hearing to facilitate the playback of the audio evidence.
Defense counsel Madieu Sesay renewed a previous bail application for the accused. However, Magistrate Fornah denied the request, citing the gravity of the offense. He ordered that the accused be remanded at the Male and Female Correctional Centres in Freetown.
The matter has been adjourned to June 10, 2025.
Very serious ….The lady is really trying very hard to transform that ministry …where has she gone wrong ? Please leave her alone…she is somebody’s wife, duaghter and a mother to her kids ….pls why planning evil agaist her ? Just becoz she is doing the right thing ?
My dear that is the Sierra Leone we have today that is delaying every progress in this country. “The Crab Mentality”.
Salone is not stable
There are lots of evil people on this planet.
Soluku I know very well When did he become an assissinator ? I think this problem stems from envy and jealousy and hatred for the DG
The SLPP will always find ways to kill innocent people and stoke up tension in the country for absolutely no reason. They enjoy killing people but the day of accountability is near. One minute you talk about people who have plotted to overthrow an illegitimate government. Some one who has used the military to usurp power and kill innocent civilians. Thank Allah, this is no longer the 80’s or 90’s where MAADA BIO committed heinous crimes and got away with them. Today, all the people he has killed, imprisoned, harassed , detained unlawfully, will be thoroughly investigated as there are compelling evidences on his atrocities against humanity. Even his words alone are enough to keep MAADA BIO behind bars for the rest of his life. This hatred must stop and very soon.
You’re looking for sympathy from the US government since two politicians were gunned down in the US. You now equate the same in Lungi? We’ll undress and shame you guys. Shame on you.
How possible five people will try to assassinate just a single and harmless woman. This is totally false allegations against the innocent people. Maybe madam has something else against those individuals.