First prosecution witness, Kadiatu Kanu, who is the mother of alleged kidnapped baby, testified that, she recognized her child, and recalled November 2016, when the person accused went to visit her Aunty, Isatu Kanu at their Green street residence in Freetown.

She disclosed to the court that, upon her arrival, the accused person enquired for Isatu Kanu, whom she also claimed was her Aunty, but that she informed the accused person that, Isata Kanu was not around.

According to the witness, the accused person told her that she had gone to see Isata Kanu for some drugs, as she was pregnant, adding that she then collected some dry leaves from the compound and gave it to the accused person, but she rejected the leaves and went away.

Madam Kadiatu Kanu further explained that on the following day, the accused person went and enquired for Isatu Kanu again, and that moment they were discussing, the accused person asked whether she knew her and she responded in the negative.

She also narrated that the accused Aminata Sillah, later informed her that she wanted to spend three days with them, and enquired whether Isatu Kanu was going to home food on the coming Sunday.

“I told the accused people that Isatu Kanu doesn’t prepared food at home on Sundays these days, and based on my responses, the accused gave me fifteen thousand leones to prepare food, “the witness stated.

She said, she left her child in care of the accused person and upon her return from Bombay Market; she met accused playing with her child, stating that while she was preparing food in the chicken, the accused person told her that she was going to buy some drugs, at a nearby pharmacy and was taking her child along.  

According to her, since the accused person went to buy the ‘so-called drugs’, she never came back to eat, nor did she returned with her child, noting that she became worried, confused and when , Isatu Kanu returned home , she informed her that  the accused persons had taken her child away without her consent.

 She maintained that she called the accused person on her mobile phone and enquired about her child, the accused person responded to her called and told her to stop tormenting her with calls, as she was having quality time with her husband.

 first prosecution witness continued that as a result of this, herself and  her Aunty Isata Kanu, went to the residence of the accused person, at  Hope Well street Kissy, where  the accused person was arrested and brought down to Kissy Police Division for investigations.

Kadiatu Kanu also explained that upon the arrival at the Kissy Police Division, the accused person asked whether the investigating police officers would exonerate her, if she produced the child, which they affirmatively responded.

She asserted that the accused person later telephoned her sister, who brought the child to Kissy Police Division, after which they all went together with the arresting officers, to the Harbor Police Station, and statement obtained from them.

Counsel representing the accused person, I.P Mammie applied and canvassed the bench for bail on behalf of his Client, but the presiding Magistrate turned down his application, stating that  he would consider bail for the accused person, provided Isatu Kanu, who is among the  paramount witnesses  testified.

The child had already been handed over to her mother and Magistrate Albert Moody has adjourned the matter to 7 February 2017.