Kenema High Court Sentences Seven Defendants to 210 Years for Murder
The High Court in Kenema, presided over by His Lordship Justice Abdul Sheriff, on 28 September 2026, sentenced seven defendants to a total of 210 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy and murder.
The defendants, Sidie Kandeh, Ibrahim Kamara, Alie Fomba, Musa Kallon, Umaru Rashid, Moses Junior Vandi and Ibrahim Juana, all residents of Jenneh Town, Kandu Leppiama Chiefdom, Kenema District, were charged with conspiring with unknown individuals to commit a felony and murdering Abu Bakarr Lolleh on 27 April 2025. All seven defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.
The prosecution, which called seven witnesses, told the court that the incident occurred after a sports event organised by St. Patrick Secondary School in Jenneh Gbando. The deceased, a teacher at the school, had returned to the school field to tidy up when the defendants allegedly emerged with sticks and other implements and attacked him.
According to the prosecution, the defendants beat the deceased with sticks across his body despite the intervention of a man who attempted to stop the assault. The deceased eventually collapsed, and the defendants fled the scene.
He was rushed to a health centre but was later pronounced dead. Following his burial, the body was subsequently examined, and a post-mortem examination was conducted. The findings were presented in court by the seventh prosecution witness, a medical doctor.
In his judgment, Justice Abdul Sheriff considered the guilty pleas entered by the defendants and the plea in mitigation presented on their behalf, urging the court to temper justice with mercy.
The judge subsequently sentenced each of the seven defendants to 30 years’ imprisonment, bringing their combined prison terms to 210 years.
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