AYV News, April 30, 2025
Alpha Sheriff, also known as APC Sheriff, and Amadu SaiduFofanah have been found Guilty and sentenced to five years of imprisonment by Honourable Justice Adrian Fisher in the High Court of Freetown for operating an unauthorised private security company.
The sentence includes the 22 months they have already spent in pre-trial detention, making them the first individuals convicted under the National Security and Central Intelligence Act of 2023.
Sheriff was additionally found Guilty of Possessing Unlicensed Firearms and Unlawfully Concealing Weapons, for which the sentence was equivalent to the time served.
The High Court determined that on June 7, 2023, these individuals, along with nine others, breached a police checkpoint in Bo while carrying prohibited weapons and security equipment. They claimed to be providing security services to a political figure from the opposition All People’s Congress Party.
The prosecution argued that the convicts posed a significant threat to national security, especially given their initial admission of guilt followed by a plea of not guilty.
The prosecution sought a sentence of up to 20 years. In contrast, the defense attorney, Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, highlighted the individuals’ good character and family responsibilities, arguing that the lengthy sentence requested by the prosecution was excessively harsh.
Justice Fisher noted that the convicts were apprehended with offensive weapons during an electoral period and stated that their actions warranted punishment under the current legal framework.
He acknowledged their expressions of remorse but ultimately held them accountable for their actions. During the mitigation phase, both convicts appealed to the court for leniency, citing significant personal and familial hardships resulting from their incarceration.
They were part of a group arrested during that period, with seven others identified as fugitives linked to an attempted coup and prison break on November 26, 2023.
