Lawyers’ Society Criticizes ‘Rule of Law’ And ‘Word of Politicians’ After Hawa Hunt’s Release

Popular reality TV star Hawa Hunt was released from detention on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, after spending nearly two months in custody on cybercrime-related charges.

Her release followed a public appeal from First Lady Fatima Bio, who distanced herself from Hunt’s arrest.

Hunt’s arrest stemmed from a video that surfaced online in December 2024, in which she allegedly insulted President Julius Maada Bio and the First Lady. However, the Sierra Leone Lawyers’ Society (SLLS) has criticized the handling of the case, suggesting that political influence played a role in Hunt’s detention.

“While we celebrate the discharge and release of Hawa Hunt from detention, sadly we have observed that the WORD of politicians seems to carry more weight than the RULE OF LAW,” the SLLS stated on their official social media page.

The organization argued that Hunt’s arrest and prolonged detention were unnecessary and that civil remedies would have been sufficient if anyone felt defamed by her statements. “With the proper application of the RULE OF LAW, HAWA HUNT would not have been arrested and detained for months in the first place,” the SLLS asserted.

Hunt’s release following the First Lady’s intervention has raised concerns about the influence of political figures on legal proceedings in Sierra Leone.