By: Audrey Raymonda John
Eight men have been remanded in custody after making their first appearance before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown on multiple charges, including conspiracy, robbery with aggravation, and murder.
The accused are: 36-year-old Ahmed Junior Sesay, a driver; 26-year-old Nicoleus Ibrahim Junior Barrie, alias “Koke,” a businessman; 20-year-old Alhaji Kamara, a mason; 38-year-old Musa Kamara, a mechanic; Mohamed Bangura, a driver; 25-year-old Abdul Kamara, a farmer; 41-year-old Michael Rogers, a businessman; and 40-year-old Michael Menjor Sesay, a public servant.
The accused face seven counts, including two counts of conspiracy contrary to law; two counts of accessory before the fact; two counts of robbery with aggravation contrary to Section 23(1)(a) of the Larceny Act 1916, as repealed and replaced by Section 1 of the Schedule to the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021 (Act No. 6 of 2022); and one count of murder contrary to Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, as repealed and replaced by Section 1(a) of the Schedule to the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021 (Act No. 6 of 2022).
According to the particulars of offence, on Monday, 12 January 2026, at No. 40 Kay Street, Makeni, in the Bombali Judicial District, Northern Province, the accused allegedly conspired with other persons unknown to commit a felony, namely robbery with aggravation.
On count two, the defendants are further accused of conspiring together with other persons unknown at the same date and place to commit murder.
Counts three and four allege that Michael Rogers and Michael Menjor Sesay, on the same date and at the same location, knowing that the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth accused persons were about to commit robbery, failed to inform the relevant authorities.
On counts five and six, the first to sixth accused persons are alleged to have, on the same date at S.S. Lodge Gas Station, Warrah Village, Makeni, while armed with an AK-47 rifle, robbed Anthony Saidu Kargbo of Thirty-Two Thousand Two Hundred and Seven Leones (Le32,207), and Kadijaja Koroma of one black Samsung Galaxy A25 Android dual SIM mobile phone valued at Six Thousand Leones (Le6,000) and cash amounting to Twenty Thousand Leones (Le20,000). During the alleged robbery, they reportedly used personal violence against both complainants.
Count seven further alleges that the first to sixth accused persons, on the same date and at the same location in Warrah Village, Makeni, murdered Anthony Saidu Kargbo.
When the charges were read and explained in court, no plea was taken from the accused.
The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Tommy B. Zizer Esq., applied for a short adjournment to enable the prosecution to properly serve the defendants with the relevant documents.
Magistrate Jah ordered that all eight accused persons be remanded at the Male Correctional Facility pending further hearing. The matter was adjourned to 4 March 2026.
Counsel Chernor Kamara and M. Bangura are representing the defendants.