Two Slammed 120 Years Each for Treason

By Fatima Sesay

Justice Alhaji Moh Jah Stevens of the Freetown High Court on Monday, 24th March 2025, sentenced Alie Badara Kanu and Thaimu Bangura to 120 years’ imprisonment each after a jury of twelve found them guilty of treason and misprision of treason. Treason contrary to Section 3(1)(a) of the Treason and State Offences Act 1963, as amended by the Treason and State Offences Amendment Act No.21 of 1963 and Misprision of treason. According to the indictment, between an unknown date in 2023 and 29th June 2024, in Freetown, the convicts prepared to unlawfully overthrow the Government of Sierra Leone. It further stated that between 1st January and 16th April 2024, they knowingly concealed information that Captain Senesie, Captain John Conteh alias “Caesar”, and others had planned to overthrow the government. During the trial, Defense Counsel S. Turay, representing the first convict, Alie Badara Kanu, argued that treason is the act of overthrowing the government, but insisted there was no credible evidence linking his client to such an act. He stressed that although the prosecution alleged Badara was part of a WhatsApp group plotting to overthrow the government, there was no evidence before the court proving this. Counsel Turay pointed out that even Cyber Officer Inspector Mohamed Jusu, in his testimony, failed to present any proof that Badara operated a WhatsApp account. He added that Badara was dismissed from the military merely for allegedly belonging to a WhatsApp group, but no concrete evidence of him purchasing weapons, attending meetings, or engaging in a coup plot was presented. Turay further noted that Badara was arrested on 16th April 2024 and detained until he was charged on 29th July 2024, arguing that it would have been impossible for him to continue plotting while in custody. He maintained that the prosecution failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt.

1. Sunder, defending the second convict, Thaimu Bangura, adopted Counsel Turay’s submission, adding that there were inconsistencies in Bangura’s statement. He noted that although Bangura said he was born in Moyamba, the police recorded his place of birth as Moriba Town, Joe Town, Waterloo — an error he described as prejudicial.

Sunder also challenged the prosecution’s failure to present any telecommunications evidence linking Bangura to the phone number said to have been used in the alleged plot. He argued that the prosecution did not meet the legal threshold required to convict the accused. In response, State Counsel Yusuf Isaac Sesay insisted that the prosecution presented sufficient evidence. He maintained that testimonies from several witnesses confirmed that both convicts were part of a WhatsApp group where meetings were held to plan the overthrow of the government. He further stated that both accused made confessional statements to the police. During his summing-up address, Justice Stevens defined treason as any plan or action to overthrow the government. He described Badara’s statement as a confessional one, noting that Badara admitted to communicating with Captain Senesie and referenced how perpetrators of the November 26th incident used RPGs to attack military targets. The judge emphasized that confessional statements are tantamount to a guilty plea. Regarding Bangura, Justice Stevens highlighted that he used the phrase “kick the bucket”, which he interpreted as an indirect confession implying plans that would lead to death. The judge stressed that once confessional statements are made, no further evidence is required for conviction. After the summing-up, the jury retired, deliberated, and returned with a unanimous guilty verdict against both convicts. In their pleas for mercy (allocutus), both convicts begged the court for leniency. Alie Badara Kanu pleaded for mercy, stating he is a family man, while Thaimu Bangura also pleaded for mercy, claiming he had no intention to overthrow the government. Defense counsels S. Turay and E. Sunder also urged the court to temper justice with mercy, describing their clients as family men and breadwinners. Justice Stevens, however, sentenced each convict to 120 years’ imprisonment, with the sentences to run concurrently.