By: Audrey Raymonda John
The Port Loko Resident High Court Judge assigned to the Kambia Judicial District, Honourable Justice Sahr Elogima Kekura, has sentenced Mohamed Yillah to sixty (60) years’ imprisonment for the unlawful possession and keeping of prohibited drugs without lawful authority.
Three defendants were arraigned before the High Court on fifteen (15) counts, including unlawful possession, selling, and keeping of prohibited drugs. The offences are contrary to Sections 8(a) and 7(c) of the National Drugs Control Act, 2008 (Act No. 10 of 2008), and Regulation 15 of the Drugs and Substance Abuse (Public Emergency) Regulations, 2024.
According to the particulars of the offence, Mohamed Yillah, on November 8, 2025, at Bamoi Luma, Magbema Chiefdom, Kambia District, was found selling 17.5 grams of Cannabis Sativa without lawful authority. On the same date and at the same location, he was also found unlawfully keeping a black rubber bucket containing a loose quantity of dried leaves of Cannabis Sativa.
The second defendant, Foday Ali Kamara, was on the same date and at the same location found in possession of 294.5 grams of Cannabis Sativa without lawful authority.
Similarly, the third defendant, Ibrahim Kamara, was found selling 36.5 grams of Cannabis Sativa without lawful authority on the same date and at the same place.
Addressing the court, Justice Sahr Elogima Kekura stated that the rampant abuse of drugs has caused serious public health harm to productive youth in society and has contributed significantly to social breakdown.
In delivering judgment, Justice Kekura noted that following the guilty plea of the first defendant, Mohamed Yillah, the court took into consideration his allocutus and the plea in mitigation made on his behalf. Mohamed Yillah pleaded guilty to counts one, two, three, seven, eight, and nine.
On counts one, two, and three, the court sentenced him to five (5) years’ imprisonment on each count. On counts seven, eight, and nine, he was sentenced to fifteen (15) years’ imprisonment on each count.
The court ordered that the sentences be served consecutively, bringing the total sentence to sixty (60) years’ imprisonment.
On count ten, the second defendant, Foday Ali Kamara, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five (5) years’ imprisonment.
Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned to February 4, 2026, for further proceedings on the remaining counts to which the defendants have not entered pleas.