By: Audrey Raymonda John
Two business tycoons, Abdul Kanu and Mohammed Abu Turay, appeared before Magistrate Mustapha Briama Jah at Pademba Road Court No. 1 on Tuesday, 4th November 2025, to answer charges of allegedly exposing the travel manifest of President Julius Maada Bio and his entourage during their trip to the United Kingdom.
The defendants were arraigned on two counts of wrongful communication of documents, contrary to Section 7(1)(a) of the Treason and State Security Act of 1963, as amended.
The indictment states that Abdul Kanu, on a date unknown between 20th and 30th August 2025, in Freetown, was found in possession of the travel manifest of President Bio and his entourage. It is alleged that Kanu wrongfully communicated the manifest to Mohammed Abu Turay.
Further, the indictment claims that on the same dates, Mohammed Abu Turay, also in possession of the same travel manifest, wrongfully communicated it while in Dubai.
When the charges were read and explained to the defendants, no plea was entered.
State prosecutor Yusif Isaac Sesay Esq. informed the court that he wished to close the prosecution’s case, relying on the evidence already presented before the court.
Defense counsels E.B. Kargbo Esq. and J. Wales Esq. applied for the appearance of the individual who prepared the cyber report (Exhibit D1-7), requesting that the author of the report testify in court. The defense stated that they had specific questions for the report’s author, rather than relying on testimony from a previous witness who had presented the report.
In response, Magistrate Jah ruled that the matter of the report’s author had already been addressed by a prior court order. He pointed out that if the defense disagreed with this order, they had the option to appeal, but the application was not supported by law, and he would not entertain further motions on the issue.
Magistrate Jah refused bail for both defendants, remanding them at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to 7th November 2025 for further proceedings.