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Popular entertainer and political activist Zainab Sheriff has been remanded in custody at the Female Correctional Facility in Freetown after being denied bail for the seventh consecutive time.
The latest ruling came during proceedings at the Freetown court on March 31, 2026, where the defense’s no-case submission was dismissed. The court ordered the defense to open its case, presenting Sheriff with two options: to comment on the charges or to lead witnesses. Sheriff chose to comment on the charges, an opportunity the court granted.
In her statement from the dock, Sheriff described herself as a patriotic Sierra Leonean with a strong love for her country. Addressing the charges, she noted that no victim or complainant had come forward and argued that the case was based solely on the police’s interpretation of a video she had made.
She maintained that her remarks at the Brima Attouga Mini Stadium in Freetown on January 31, 2026, were intended to deter election rigging and not to incite violence or insult anyone. She insisted that her statement should not be misinterpreted and emphasized that she does not support violence or extrajudicial killing. Sheriff reaffirmed that at this stage the State should protect her rather than prosecute her, underscoring her loyalty and commitment to protecting Sierra Leone’s constitution.
The matter has been adjourned to April 7, 2026, for a further hearing.
Sheriff, a flagbearer aspirant of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) and chairperson of the “Wi Duti Lappa” movement—a civic organization promoting women’s empowerment and increased female political representation—was declared wanted by the Sierra Leone Police on February 13, 2026 . The charges stem from statements she allegedly made during an opposition APC meeting at the Brima Attouga Mini Stadium in Freetown on January 31, 2026.
According to prosecutors, Sheriff stated that anyone who rigs an election has stolen the people’s vote and should be killed because such an act constitutes treason. She also allegedly referred to the president as “a rigger”—remarks authorities considered to constitute incitement and threatening language under Section 30(1) of the Public Order Act of 1965.
Sheriff was arrested on February 20, 2026, outside the Royal Fitness Gym and Lor Restaurant in Freetown by officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). She was initially detained at the CID headquarters before being formally charged.
She appeared for the first time before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1 on February 23, 2026, where she pleaded not guilty to the charges. Despite a bail application by her defense team, the court denied bail and ordered her remanded at the Female Correctional Facility at Pademba Road Prison.
Subsequent bail applications were rejected on February 26, March 5, March 11, March 18, and March 25, 2026, marking five denials before the latest seventh refusal. During the March 11 hearing, the prosecution closed its case after presenting two witnesses, including a cyber analyst who testified that forensic examinations of a pen drive and an iPhone 15 Pro Max linked to Sheriff contained videos of the alleged statements . Screenshots and a transcription of the video were also tendered as evidence.
Sheriff’s case has drawn attention due to the contrasting treatment of a co-accused from the same political gathering. APC Secretary-General Lansana Dumbuya was arrested and charged with incitement and insulting conduct arising from the same January 31 rally . However, while Sheriff has been repeatedly denied bail, Dumbuya was granted bail five days after being remanded following his first court appearance on February 13, 2026.
The Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) also fined the APC NLe 350,000 (US$14,300) over the remarks made at the rally, a penalty the party paid.
Sheriff’s continued detention has prompted reactions from civil society, women’s rights groups, and public figures. The 50/50 Group, an organization advocating for women’s political participation in Sierra Leone, has called on the judiciary to grant Sheriff bail, arguing that the law generally presumes bail for offenses that do not involve serious crimes such as murder or treason.
Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr publicly criticized the detention, stating on her Facebook page that “freedom of speech must be applicable to everyone and the law must be consistently applied. Zainab O Sheriff’s continued detention is a serious cause for concern in a democracy”.
The Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ) has also demanded her release, stressing that justice should be administered fairly and without unnecessary delay. The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has called for the equal and fair application of the law and urged authorities to respect constitutional protections of freedom of expression.
The Office of the Entertainment Ambassador formally appealed to the Judiciary to grant Sheriff bail, emphasizing that “justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done — fairly, transparently, and without prejudice”.
The crime is bailable but Zainab refusal to honor police invitation and warrant of arrest, inflammatory utterances against the police, and a show of no remorse; compounded by her history of a similar crime committed by Zainab in the past must have complicated Zainab’s incarceration.
I think this is not just a case for Zainab but a deterrent for future occurrences from anyone else.
If Zainab could just swallow her pride, rethink and consider apologies to those she offended, I am certain the authorities would likely tamper with justice and she will gain her total freedom. My take Ooh in my tight village corner
Rudeness, arrogance and pompousity do not lead to any good. People praising her as a heroine and champion are deceiving her. Some sleep on their cosy beds at night while she continues to languish at the female correctional wing of the Pademba Road prison. If i may ask, is Zainab not matured enough to read between the lines? Or is she just blatantly stupid?
Madam Zainab mistook Authoritarian regime for Democracy
She rightly mentioned that, the state should have provided her with security for her boldness to speak truth to power.
That would have happened under a Democratic dispensation.
But this is a regime that has no respect for democratic views
𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔹𝕚𝕠’𝕤 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕒𝕕𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕚𝕤 𝕒 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕘𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖, 𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕝𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕡𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕤𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕠𝕠𝕣 𝕔𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕫𝕖𝕟𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕤𝕒𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕥𝕙 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕗𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕟𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕡𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕤𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕎𝕒𝕣, 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕂𝕒𝕚𝕜𝕒𝕚.
𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕦𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕒 𝕘𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕒𝕝𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥 𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕡𝕖𝕠𝕡𝕝𝕖 𝕓𝕒𝕕𝕝𝕪 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕟𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕤𝕒𝕪 𝕒 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕕 𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕓𝕦𝕤𝕪 𝕒𝕓𝕦𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕡𝕖𝕠𝕡𝕝𝕖.
𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℙ𝕠𝕡 𝕤𝕒𝕪𝕤, 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕠 𝕗𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕡𝕣𝕒𝕪𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕟𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕓𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕤𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕓𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝔾𝕠𝕕, 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕞.
Let me start by making one cogent observation. In any serious discuss on a public forum such as this, people are expected to exercise some form of decency by abstaining from personal attacks. Everyone has a right to his/her opinion. You have no right to attack or criticise my opinion or views on matters of public interest. Civilised people do not behave like that. You are giving clear indications that you are not only academically disoriented but also morally bankrupt and debased. I implore you to please focus on your ideas and opinions, and completely abstain from critiquing other people’s writing.
Stay safe and please do not repeat your mistake otherwise, i will go to town with you harder than this.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
It took about a month to complete the “treason” trial of November 2025. But for apparent “cuss” it’s taking more than a month to even start the trial. You morons, understand that we have no “Ngor” in this country and this is not your “fakai.” Simply, this regime is not good for Saone
I detest arguing with semi-iliterates with shallow mindsets whose greatest weapon is rudeness which reflects their backgrounds and upbringing.