Digital Evidence Links APC's Dumbuya to Incitement of Insulting Chants

Digital Evidence Links APC's Dumbuya to Incitement of Insulting Chants

In a pivotal court session, the legal case against Lansana Dumbuya, who faces charges of incitement and the use of insulting language, proceeded with detailed witness accounts and the introduction of significant digital evidence.

The proceedings focused on a 45-second video presented in open court, which the prosecution contends contains inciting statements directed at His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the President of Sierra Leone.

The prosecution's second witness, Detective Sergeant Sahr Foday Lebbie of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), delivered crucial forensic analysis of the electronic evidence. He stated that on February 3rd, 2026, he received a pendrive containing case-relevant videos from his colleagues. Following an inspection, he confirmed the device was operational, and utilizing FTK Manager tools, he reviewed its contents to verify that they had not been manipulated. Multiple screenshots and video clips were then extracted and formally preserved as evidence.

Sergeant Lebbie subsequently examined a mobile phone provided by Inspector Kabba Lavalie, confirming its condition and retrieving the registered phone number, 078159434, which is linked to the defendant, Lansana Dumbuya.

Although the phone itself did not yield further evidence pertinent to the case, the forensic report he authored, dated February 5th, 2026, included a transcript of the primary video. This transcript indicated that the accused allegedly instructed supporters to chant provocative slogans against the President, explicitly stating, “Maada Bio tiffy the election, Maada Bio tiffy-tiffy Jankoleeco.”

The forensic findings were substantiated by the video itself, which was played in court. The footage depicted Dumbuya, identified as the Secretary General of the APC Party, on a stage at the Brima Attouga Mini Stadium. In the video, he was observed encouraging supporters to sing a chant that insulted the President, with the crowd visibly participating.

The evidence presented was intended to establish that the defendant actively prompted supporters to insult the head of state, which would constitute a violation of the charges filed against him.

During cross-examination, the forensic analyst clarified that Dumbuya was not present when the video was initially created or when the evidence was extracted, and the footage was not sourced from his personal device. He confirmed that no arrests had been made in relation to the video’s dissemination, nor was there evidence linking Dumbuya directly to its production, beyond his appearance within the footage.

The court also received testimony from Assistant Superintendent of Police Francis Momodu Tommy, a Regional Operations Officer, who recounted his direct observations during the rally. He stated that he saw Dumbuya on stage, leading supporters in chanting, “Mada Bio tiffy the election, Mada Bio tiffy-tiffy Jankoleeco.” Officer Tommy expressed that he found the remarks offensive, as they were directed at the President, though he confirmed the event remained peaceful, with no disorder or arrests occurring. His official report, tendered as Exhibit A, documented these observations and confirmed that no arrests were made at the scene.

The collected evidence, which included the forensic report, the video footage, and official police documentation, provided a comprehensive account of the events and the alleged incitement. The court proceedings highlighted the growing significance of digital evidence in modern legal proceedings, with the testimonies underscoring the critical role of electronic recordings and forensic analysis in fact determination.

As the hearing concluded, the defense requested an adjournment to prepare a no-case submission, with the case scheduled to resume on March 19th, 2026.