By Mackie M. Jalloh
Popular entertainer, political activist, and opposition figure Zainab Sheriff has been remanded at the Female Correctional Facility in Freetown after the Freetown court denied her bail for the seventh consecutive time. The latest ruling came on March 31, 2026, following the dismissal of the defense’s no case submission, forcing the court to direct the defense to formally open its case. Sheriff opted to respond to the charges herself, delivering a statement from the dock.
Addressing the court, Sheriff described herself as a patriotic Sierra Leonean committed to the country’s constitutional order. She asserted that no direct complainant had come forward regarding the allegations and argued that the case against her rests entirely on police interpretations of a video she produced. Sheriff emphasized that her remarks during the All People’s Congress (APC) rally at Brima Attouga Mini Stadium on January 31, 2026, were intended to highlight the dangers of election manipulation, not to incite violence or target anyone personally. She stressed that she does not condone extrajudicial measures, urging the State to protect rather than prosecute her.
The matter has been adjourned to April 7, 2026, for further proceedings. Sheriff, a flagbearer aspirant for the APC and chairperson of the civic initiative “Wi Duti Lappa,” which advocates for women’s political empowerment, was first declared wanted by the Sierra Leone Police on February 13, 2026. She was arrested a week later, on February 20, outside the Royal Fitness Gym and Lor Restaurant in Freetown by officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), and initially held at CID headquarters before formal charges were filed.
Prosecutors allege that Sheriff, in her rally statements, called for the killing of individuals involved in election rigging, citing such acts as treason, and allegedly referred to the president as “a rigger.” Authorities have charged her under Section 30(1) of the Public Order Act of 1965 for incitement and threatening language. Her co-accused, APC Secretary-General Lansana Dumbuya, who faced similar allegations from the same rally, was granted bail just five days after his remand, highlighting a stark contrast in judicial treatment.
Sheriff’s bail applications have repeatedly been refused: on February 26, March 5, March 11, March 18, March 25, and now March 31. During the March 11 hearing, the prosecution closed its case after presenting two witnesses, including a cyber analyst who confirmed that forensic examinations of a pen drive and an iPhone 15 Pro Max linked to Sheriff contained video evidence of the alleged statements. Screenshots and a transcription of the video were tendered as additional evidence.
The case has provoked strong reactions from civil society, women’s rights advocates, and public figures. The 50/50 Group, promoting female political participation, called for her release, noting that the law generally favors bail for non-violent offenses. Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr criticized the continued detention, emphasizing that freedom of speech must be upheld for all citizens. The Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ) and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) echoed calls for fair, timely, and unbiased administration of justice.
The Office of the Entertainment Ambassador also appealed for bail, underlining the principle that “justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done fairly, transparently, and without prejudice.” As Sheriff remains in custody, the case has become a flashpoint in discussions on political freedom, the equitable application of law, and the protection of constitutional rights in Sierra Leone.
