By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, July 2, 2026: The High Court of Sierra Leone has begun hearing the appeal of Yabu Zainab Sheriff, who is challenging her four-year prison sentence for incitement and threatening language handed down by the Magistrate’s Court in April.
Defence counsel Roland Wright argued before Justice Mark Ngegba that the conviction was unlawful and urged the court to quash both the sentence and the ruling. He submitted that Sheriff’s alleged remarks were made during a private interview with a blogger at a political rally in January, later published online without her involvement.
Wright emphasized that no individual had come forward claiming to have been incited or threatened, noting that the case was triggered only after CID cyber officers discovered the publication online. He further contended that the Magistrate failed to obtain Sheriff’s consent for a summary trial, rendering the proceedings invalid.
The defence also challenged the defective charge of incitement, arguing that the trial court improperly relied on a dissenting judgment rather than binding legal authority. Wright maintained that the prosecution failed to produce a complainant or any victim who claimed to have been influenced by the remarks.
Out of 22 grounds of appeal, Wright addressed five and requested an adjournment. The matter was postponed to 16 July 2026 for continuation of proceedings.