By: Audrey Raymonda John
A husband and wife, Janet Ibrahim Charles and Musa Saidu, on Monday, 9 November 2026, made their first appearance before Principal Magistrate Mustapha Briama Jah on allegations of sharing intimate images and videos of a woman, Stella Baindu Bewie, on Facebook without her consent.
The defendants are facing three counts under the Cyber Security and Crime Act, 2021 (Act No. 7 of 2021), relating to the alleged disclosure and publication of intimate and sexually explicit images without consent.
According to the police report, Bewie was previously in a relationship with Musa Saidu before the relationship ended. She subsequently became romantically involved with Ansumana Charles, a staff member of the Ministry of Lands and brother of the first defendant, Janet Ibrahim Charles.
The prosecution alleged that Janet Ibrahim Charles discovered intimate pictures and videos of Bewie on her husband’s mobile phone and subsequently published them on Facebook without the complainant’s consent.
According to the indictment, on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, in Freetown, both defendants allegedly shared an intimate image of Bewie without her consent through a Facebook account bearing the name Janet Abraham.
The indictment further alleged that the first defendant used the same Facebook account to publish a sexually explicit image of the complainant with the intention of shaming, humiliating and intimidating her.
In a separate count, Musa Saidu was accused of taking an intimate image of Bewie without her consent on 14 July 2026 at the Pastoral Centre Guest House in the Kenema Judicial District, Eastern Province.
When the charges were read and explained to the defendants, no plea was taken, as the matter is at the committal proceedings stage.
The prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dellia Wellington Esq., informed the court that both defendants had been served with copies of the case and inquiry files and had acknowledged receipt.
Lead defence counsel, I. Steven, subsequently applied for bail on behalf of both defendants pursuant to Section 79(1)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 2024.
However, Magistrate Jah refused the bail application, citing the seriousness of the alleged offences.
The matter was adjourned to 11 November 2026 for further proceedings.