The Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has on Friday 21 October 2022 appeared in Freetown Magistrate Court to answer charges of Obstruction of Police duty, contrary to Section 39 of the Police Act, 1964, Act No. 7 of 1964 and Disorderly Behaviour contrary to Section 12(b) of the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1965 as repealed and replaced by the Public Order (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1973, Act No. 15 of 1973.

The State was represented by I Y Sesay. The Mayor’s lawyers included former Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Sierra Leone, Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, Derek Beoku Betts and Melron Nicol Wilson.

The case was adjourned to Wednesday 26 October 2022.

She made her last court appearance on Friday 14th October, at the Magistrate Court in Lungi, where she was accused by police of disorderly behaviour and obstruction of officers trying to arrest elected opposition councillor, Sheku Turay, who was wanted for investigation into the riots that took place in Freetown on the 10th of August 2022.

The case was later transferred to the capital, Freetown where the trial continued on Friday 21st October 2022.

At Lungi Magistrate Court, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr was granted bail by Magistrate Shaka Kamara in her own recognition, with bail set at 100 million New Leones, and required to hand over her National ID Card and Passport to the Registrar of Courts.