By Lawrence Williams
A Freetown magistrate court has remanded the Secretary General of the All People’s Congress (APC), Lansana Dumbuya Esq., to the maximum-security prison at Pademba Road after he was charged with incitement, insulting conduct, and public insult against President Julius Maada Bio.
The charges stem from statements allegedly made by Dumbuya during an APC gathering on January 31, which the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) said constituted a breach of the Political Parties Act 2022.
Lawyer Dumbuya was formally charged to court a day after the APC paid a NLe350,000 fine imposed by the PPRC over what it described as “profane” and “inciting” statements attributed to him and another party member, Zainab Sheriff.
Reacting to the development, Hon. Mohamed Bangura, a senior APC figure, described the situation as “not good for our democracy.” He argued that since the PPRC had already addressed the matter administratively, further criminal proceedings were unnecessary.
“I don’t see any criminal intent in this matter,” Bangura said, as news of Dumbuya’s incarceration spread across the country. “This matter should have stopped at the PPRC. It’s unfortunate for it to be taken to court.”
Earlier, Dr. Sylvia Blyden, an APC stalwart and aspirant for the party’s flagbearer position, also called for the case to be dismissed while Dumbuya was being detained at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). She argued that pursuing criminal charges after the party had already been penalized by the PPRC could amount to double jeopardy, since the administrative sanctions were directly linked to the secretary general’s conduct now under police investigation.
The matter continues to generate political debate, with observers closely watching its implications for political expression and party regulation in Sierra Leone.
