Another Bail Rejection for Zainab Sheriff; Trial Resumes March 11

Another Bail Rejection for Zainab Sheriff; Trial Resumes March 11

The incitement case against Zainab Sheriff saw a significant development as the initial prosecution witness provided comprehensive testimony connecting her to the alleged offenses.

Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah of Pademba Road Court No.1 denied the defense counsel's application for bail, scheduling the subsequent hearing for March 11, 2026.

Detective Police Constable Sheku Turay, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, formally identified the accused and detailed the investigative protocol. He testified that on January 31, 2026, officers discovered a video attributed to Ms. Sheriff on the Facebook pages "Born 2 Blog" and "Liberty TV," which was suspected of inciting violence against individuals accused of election tampering.

PC Turay explained that cybercrime unit personnel downloaded the video, transferring it to a pen drive for evidentiary purposes. The case file, including the pen drive and supplementary screenshots, was subsequently assigned to him for ongoing investigation.

Attempts to contact Ms. Sheriff via both telephone and WhatsApp were unsuccessful, as her contact numbers were inactive. A physical check of her last known residence confirmed she had relocated.

Following the issuance of a court-approved warrant on February 3, 2026, Ms. Sheriff was officially declared wanted, and a public notice was disseminated on February 20. Intelligence-led operations resulted in her arrest along Main Goderich Road in Juba. Upon apprehension, she requested to contact her legal representative, and an iPhone 15 Pro Max was seized and submitted for forensic analysis.

PC Turay affirmed that the evidentiary video on the pen drive was played in Ms. Sheriff's presence during the investigation, and she allegedly acknowledged being the individual in the footage. She also provided statements in Krio and English, which she confirmed as truthful and accurate, in the presence of her legal counsel.

During cross-examination, the witness confirmed that the case was initiated solely by official authorities, with no private individual having filed a complaint against Ms. Sheriff. He further acknowledged that the video included a reference to "Foday Sankoh," a name with notable political and historical context.

Defense counsel, Roland Wright, advocated for bail, asserting that Ms. Sheriff presented neither a flight risk nor a danger to witnesses. He highlighted her documented positive contributions to national development and women's empowerment as evidence of her commitment to the country.

Nevertheless, after evaluating the submissions, Magistrate Jah rejected the bail application and directed the trial to resume on March 11, 2026.

The judicial proceedings will continue with the presentation of additional evidence and testimonies.