By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, March 5, 2026: Magistrate Mustapha Briama Jah of Pademba Road Court No. 1 has admitted video evidence in the ongoing trial of actress and activist Yabu Zainab Sheriff, who faces charges of incitement and threatening language.
Prosecution witness Sheku Turay, a detective attached to the Cyber Crime Syndicate at CID Headquarters, testified that the video allegedly involving the defendant was discovered during routine cyber surveillance on January 31, 2026. The video, published on the Born2blog Facebook page and Liberty TV Online, was downloaded, stored on a pen drive, and tendered as Exhibit A.
Turay explained that after forensic analysis, the video was confirmed and linked to Sheriff, who later admitted during police interviews that she was the speaker in the footage. Her statement was tendered as Exhibit F1–F27.
Defence Objection Overruled
Defence Counsel Roland Wright objected to the admissibility of the pen drive, arguing that the witness was not competent to tender downloaded material and that the original publisher should be called.
State Counsel Yusuf Isaac Sesay countered, citing Section 92(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2024, which allows investigators to tender evidence they handled. Magistrate Jah ruled in favor of the prosecution, declaring the video admissible.
Arrest and Bail Application
Turay testified that Sheriff was arrested on February 20, 2026, at LOR Gym Facility in Juba following a warrant issued earlier that month. She was taken to Lumley Police Station and later transferred to CID Headquarters, where her iPhone 15 Pro Max was seized for forensic examination.
Under cross-examination, Turay confirmed that no individual had lodged a complaint regarding the video, though names such as Foday Sankoh were mentioned in it.
Defence Counsel Wright renewed his bail application, describing Sheriff as a resilient public figure who has represented Sierra Leone internationally and supports women nationwide. He argued that she poses no flight risk, is a mother of two, and is currently unwell.
The State Prosecutor opposed the application, stressing the seriousness of the charges. Magistrate Jah adjourned the matter for ruling on bail.