By: Audrey Raymonda John
The treason trial of Joseph Dumbuya and Ahmed Turay commenced on Thursday before Magistrate Patrick Fofanah at the Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown. The two accused are alleged to have conspired with unknown persons to overthrow the government of Sierra Leone by unlawful means.
Before proceedings began, State Prosecutor Yusuf Isaac Sesay informed the court that a consent document authorizing the prosecution of the accused had been filed by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, in accordance with Section 1(2) of the Treason and State Offenses Act No. 10 of 1963, as amended.
Testifying as the first prosecution witness, Gibrilla Kanu, a police officer attached to the Operational Support Division (OSD) on King Harman Road, said he recognized both accused in the dock and recalled the events of 26 November 2023.
He said that early that morning, he received a call from his superior, Joe Kamanda Bonjay, instructing him and other officers to respond to an attack at Pademba Road Prison. They gathered at the Police Headquarters on George Street, joined other officers, and proceeded to the prison.
Upon arrival at the Campbell Street junction, Kanu testified that they came under fire from armed assailants. “We were ordered out of the vehicle with our rifles. The unknown men asked us to put our weapons down. We resisted,” he said, adding that one of the attackers threatened them with an RPG (Rocket-Propelled Grenade).
Kanu further testified that Amadu Koita, one of the alleged attackers, instructed Colonel Senessie to address the police officers. Senessie questioned them about their salaries, medical benefits, and children’s education but received no responses. He then urged them to join the group in “cleaning the city.”
Kanu identified the first accused, Joseph Dumbuya, who he said was wearing a white shirt and armed with an AK-47. He testified that Koita ordered the group to release the inmates from the prison. The officers were forced to enter the prison, where assailants broke open gates and encouraged inmates to flee.
The second prosecution witness, Saidu Kamara, also an officer at the OSD, corroborated Kanu’s testimony. He stated he was at Jui with Assistant Commissioner Joe Kamanda Bonjay when they received orders to proceed to Pademba Road Prison due to the ongoing attack.
The third prosecution witness, Sergeant 8974 Solomon Amadu, attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), testified that Joseph Dumbuya was arrested on 2 April 2025 on suspicion of treason. Alongside Sergeant 1818 Hassan A.S. Combay, he interviewed the accused in accordance with the Judges’ Rules.
Sergeant Amadu said Dumbuya’s mobile phone was retrieved and handed over to the cyber unit for analysis. The accused was shown CCTV footage of the November 26th incident, described as an attempted coup. He added that charge statements were taken on 12 May 2025, and Dumbuya was formally charged with treason and murder. Both the voluntary and charge statements were tendered in court.
All three witnesses were cross-examined by Defense Counsel Chernor Kamara. Bail was denied for both accused, and the matter was adjourned to Monday, 2 June 2025, for continuation.
Joseph Dumbuya and Ahmed Turay are facing two counts:
Treason, contrary to Section 3(1)(a) of the Treason and State Offenses Act of 1963
Murder, contrary to Section 1 of the Offenses Against the Person Act of 1861
The indictment alleges that between 11 and 26 November 2023, the accused conspired with others to seize power unlawfully. They allegedly targeted key state installations, including:
5th Battalion Wilberforce Barracks
Joint Force Command Headquarters, Cockerill
3rd Infantry Brigade, Murray Town
Sierra Leone Correctional Center
Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), New England Ville
The accused are also alleged to have broken into the male and female correctional centers, released inmates unlawfully, and murdered Obi Isaac Johnson, an officer of the correctional center, during the attack.