Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Lawyers’ Society has described the conviction and sentencing of Zainab Sheriff as unjustifiably excessive and an infringement on fundamental rights, urging the Chief Justice to exercise his summary review powers to acquit and discharge her.
Magistrate Brima Jah sentenced Ms. Sheriff to four years and two months in the case of The Inspector General of Police v. Zainab Sheriff. In a press release dated 16th April 2026, the Lawyers’ Society expressed profound concern over the judgment, stating that comments made by Ms. Sheriff in the exercise of her right to expression and opinion should not have led to criminal prosecution.
The Society noted that the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) had already imposed a fine, the questionable legality of which the Society acknowledged, and that the fine was duly paid by the opposition party.
“The freedom to express legitimate opinions is an essential component of democracy, even when those opinions may be unpopular or unpalatable,” the statement read.
The Society also criticised the attitude of the Court in outrightly refusing to admit Ms. Sheriff to bail throughout the summary trial, which it said was contrary to the presumption of her innocence and her right to bail as emphasised in the new Criminal Procedure Act of 2024.
In the Society’s assessment, the sentence imposed on Ms. Sheriff appears unnecessarily severe and could discourage citizens from voicing diverse perspectives, suggesting limited tolerance for free and honest speech and dialogue by the government.
The Lawyers’ Society urged the Chief Justice to exercise his summary review powers in line with the spirit of the provisions of Cap 17 of the Laws of Sierra Leone to acquit and discharge Ms. Sheriff, as he has done recently in cases of unfair sentencing.
“We remain committed to upholding the rule of law and advocating for good governance that promotes and protects the fundamental rights of the people of this nation,” the Society stated.
