By: Audrey Raymonda John
Yabu Zainab Sheriff appeared before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah for the fifth time as the prosecution requested a short adjournment. The defendant is facing charges over alleged inciting statements reportedly made at the Brima Attouga Mini Stadium.
Sheriff was arraigned on charges of incitement contrary to law and threatening language under Section 30(1) of the Public Order Act 1965, lead defense counsel Roland Wright informed the bench that Sheriff would rely on her statement previously made to the police. He opted not to make a no-case submission. The court presented three options to the defendant: make a no-case submission, testify on the witness stand, or rely on her prior police statement. Sheriff chose the latter.
Prosecutor Yusuf Isaac Sesay argued that the defense’s reference to Section 115(1)(d) was not applicable in this summary trial, noting that Section 105 governs the procedure. He stated that, since Sheriff had pleaded not guilty and had opted to rely on her prior statement, the prosecution was ready to proceed, as all witnesses had been cross-examined and the defendant’s statement was already in evidence.
Magistrate Jah, having heard both sides, adjourned the matter to March 25, 2026. Sheriff was represented by a team of lawyers, including Roland S.V. Wright, B. Michael, R.S. Bangura, H.D. Timbo, M. Sesay, J. Bayoh, M. Jalloh, S. Bai Sesay, A.B. Marrah, M. Conteh, and M.N. Bah.