Zainab Sheriff Case Adjourned as Defense Seeks More Time to Review Prosecution Files

The case involving Zainab Sheriff and the State was adjourned on Thursday at Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown after her defense team requested additional time to review prosecution documents.

This marks Sheriff’s second appearance before Principal Magistrate Mustapha Briama Jah in relation to alleged inciting statements made at the Brima Attouga Mini Stadium. She is charged with incitement and making threatening statements, contrary to Section 30(1) of the Public Order Act of 1965.

Police reports allege that on Saturday, January 31, 2026, Sheriff made statements at the stadium encouraging violence against individuals accused of electoral rigging. According to the reports, she allegedly said: “Clearly election don don and you nor get more money than me, you rogue election and cheat a whole eight million people dem and kill people dem and send dem go jail, we go send message say nobody nor go cheat an entire eight million people and proudly go free.”

Lead defense lawyer RM Kondeh told the court that the defense had only recently received the prosecution files and required sufficient time to review them, stressing the seriousness of the allegations. He therefore requested an adjournment.

State Prosecutor Yusuf Isaac Sesay argued that the prosecution had complied with Section 98(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act No. 8 of 2024, which requires that documents be served to the defense within eight days of the first court appearance. He contended that serving the files does not automatically justify a delay and that granting the adjournment would be unfair to the State.

Magistrate Briama Jah declined to grant bail, noting that he preferred to hear witness testimony before considering such a request. The case has now been adjourned to March 4, 2026, for continued hearing.