Court Discharges Case Against Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyer

The case against Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyer was on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, formally discharged after the State withdrew all charges relating to obstruction of police duty and disorderly behaviour.

The charges, which stemmed from an incident at the Airport Police Division in Lungi, were discontinued at the Magistrate Court before Principal Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah.

The case was dropped following a formal notice of discontinuance signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Osman I. Kanu, indicating the State’s decision to withdraw all charges.

Mayor Aki-Sawyer had been facing two counts: obstruction of police duty, contrary to Section 39 of the Police Act of 1964, and disorderly conduct, contrary to Section 12(b) of the Public Order Act of 1965, as amended.

The allegations arose from an incident in which she was accused of obstructing police officers during the questioning of a councillor.

During the trial, defense counsel Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara challenged the allegations, presenting evidence and calling witnesses to counter the claims. The defense also applied for subpoenas for additional witnesses, which contributed to earlier delays in the proceedings.

The trial featured testimonies from police officers and the review of video evidence relating to the incident.

In his ruling, Magistrate Jah reviewed the official notice of discontinuance from the DPP, citing provisions of the 1991 Constitution, and subsequently ordered that the matter be discharged, thereby clearing Mayor Aki-Sawyer of all charges.

The decision brings to an end a legal process that attracted significant public attention and concludes the controversy surrounding the case.