Freetown, Sierra Leone – 1 July 2025: Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 has committed Tejan Rogers, a lecturer at the Milton Margai College Goderich campus, to the High Court for trial on charges of cyberbullying and cyberstalking.
Rogers faces two counts under Section 44 (2)(b) of the Cybersecurity and Crime Act of 2001. According to the charge sheet, between 1st and 30th November 2022, the accused allegedly used a WhatsApp group named “Maada Must Stay Campaign” to post audio recordings and text messages targeting Dr. Philip John Kanu, Chancellor of the university. The messages are alleged to have been false, damaging to Dr. Kanu’s character, and likely to provoke public disorder.
Lead prosecutor ACP Joan Bull informed the court that the state had closed its case after presenting multiple witnesses whose testimonies reportedly corroborated the allegations.
Defense counsel Zacharia Kanu attempted to restrict media coverage of the proceedings, citing precedent from a previous judge who had heard the matter in chambers. However, ACP Bull opposed this request, stating that the prosecution welcomed open and accurate reporting. Magistrate Fornah agreed, urging journalists to report proceedings precisely and without distortion.
Delivering his committal ruling, Magistrate Fornah stated that the prosecution had established a prima facie case sufficient to warrant a High Court trial.