By: Audrey Raymonda John
Junior Nabieu, a complainant in a criminal case, was remanded for 24 hours at the Pademba Road Male Correctional Facility by Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah of Court No. 1 in Freetown. The decision came after Nabieu abruptly expressed his desire to withdraw the case during proceedings, thereby wasting the court’s time.
Nabieu was in court to testify against Obai Sesay, who was charged with wounding with intent, contrary to Section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861.
According to the charge sheet, on Wednesday, 18th June 2025, at the Port Authority Office off Wallace Johnson Street in Freetown, the accused, Obai Sesay, allegedly wounded Junior Nabieu with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
During the hearing, Assistant Superintendent of Police Ibrahim Mansaray led the prosecution and presented Nabieu as a witness. However, upon taking the stand, Nabieu informed the court that he was no longer interested in pursuing the matter and wished to withdraw the complaint.
Magistrate Jah, visibly displeased, stated that such a decision should have been communicated before the case was formally mentioned in court. He subsequently ordered that Nabieu be remanded for 24 hours as a consequence for derailing court proceedings.
“Remand the complainant for 24 hours for wasting the time of the court. If he wished to settle the matter outside court, he should have informed the bench before the case was mentioned,” Magistrate Jah declared.