By: Audrey Raymonda John
On Monday, October 2025, Honourable Justice Tonia Barnett of the Court of Appeal sentenced Nuru Deen Bangapoma Bangura, a 40-year-old businessman, to nine years of imprisonment for migrant smuggling, in violation of Section 20(1) of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act, 2022, Act No. 12 of 2022.
The indictment revealed that Nuru Deen Bangura and his brother, Sheik Ibrahim Bangapoma Bangura, were jointly charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit migrant smuggling and one count of migrant smuggling under Section 20(1) of the Act.
State Counsel A. Jalloh, leading the prosecution, informed the court that between September 1, 2023, and April 30, 2024, the defendants conspired with others to facilitate migrant smuggling. Nuru Deen was accused of obtaining financial benefits from Nyuma Lamin Tengbeh, between September 5, 2023, and April 25, 2024, under the false pretext of facilitating his travel and stay in the United States—an action deemed illegal under the law.
The prosecution presented evidence that Nuru Deen made an agreement with Nyuma Lamin Tengbeh and his elder brother, Sinnah Manley, to arrange overseas travel. Nuru Deen reportedly convinced the community headman to persuade the victim’s mother to sell their property for Three Hundred Million New Leones (NLe 300,000,000). Subsequently, Nuru Deen demolished a perimeter fence protecting the property, and a new fence was erected by the buyer.
However, instead of traveling to the United States as promised, Nyuma Lamin Tengbeh was taken to Guinea and later flown to Kazakhstan, where he is reportedly in poor health.
Both defendants, Nuru Deen and Sheik Ibrahim, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecution presented seven witnesses, while the defendant, Nuru Deen, called one witness. Sheik Ibrahim did not call any witnesses in his defense.
In her judgment, Honourable Justice Barnett noted that overwhelming evidence, including testimony from the first defendant, confirmed that he had “traveled with Lamin Tengbeh to Kazakhstan.” She also pointed out that no evidence was presented to show that Nuru Deen was a Consular Officer, a member of a humanitarian organization, or a licensed individual authorized to facilitate cross-border migration or resettlement.
“The first defendant is therefore found guilty of the offence charged as indicated in the indictment,” said Honourable Justice Tonia Barnett.
The judge sentenced Nuru Deen Bangapoma Bangura to nine years of imprisonment for migrant smuggling (Count Two) and acquitted both Nuru Deen and Sheik Ibrahim Bangapoma Bangura of conspiracy to commit migrant smuggling (Count One).
In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the property at No. 67 Mongegba, Regent Road, Grafton, Freetown which had been sold under false pretenses to be retrieved by the Undersheriff’s Department and returned to its original owner.
Honourable Justice Barnett also ordered that Nyuma Lamin Tengbeh be compensated with Two Hundred Thousand New Leones (NLe 200,000) for emotional trauma, with the compensation to be paid immediately.
Furthermore, the court ordered the repatriation of the victim, who is currently in Kazakhstan in poor health, to Sierra Leone.
Finally, the judge instructed that the passport of the second defendant, Sheik Ibrahim Bangapoma Bangura, be handed over to him by the Court Registrar.
The defendants were represented by I. Turay Esq.