Freetown High Court Sentences Two Men to 120 Years Each for Treason

In the Freetown High Court, Justice Alhaji Moh Jah Stevens presided over the trial of Alie Badara Kanu and Thaimu Bangura, who faced charges of treason.

On Monday, March 24, 2025, following a determination of guilt by a twelve-member jury, the court sentenced both individuals to imprisonment for a duration of 120 years each. The defendants were accused of two counts of treason under Section 3(1)(a) of the Treason and State Offences Act of 1963, along with misprision of treason.

The prosecution alleged that between June 24, 2023, and June 29, 2024, in Freetown, the accused conspired to unlawfully depose the government of Sierra Leone, and further, that between January 1 and April 16, 2024, they deliberately withheld information concerning others implicated in the alleged plot.

Defense Counsel S. Turay, representing Mr. Kanu, argued for dismissal due to insufficient evidence, while E. Sunder, representing Mr. Bangura, echoed these arguments and raised concerns regarding procedural inconsistencies.

Conversely, State Counsel Yusuf Isaac Sesay affirmed the sufficiency of the evidence, including confessional statements and witness testimonies. Justice Stevens instructed the jury on the legal definition of treason, emphasizing the weight of confessional statements. The jury returned a guilty verdict.

Both defendants and their respective counsels requested leniency. Ultimately, Justice Stevens imposed a sentence of 120 years of imprisonment for each defendant, to be served consecutively.