By Mohamed Mansaray,
In a move to fast-track the prosecution of drug-related offences in line with new judiciary directives, Principal Magistrate his Worship Hadiru Daboh of the Kenema Magistrates’ Court has committed four defendants to stand trial at the High Court of Sierra Leone, the decision, delivered on 3 December 2025, follows strict enforcement of Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act No. 10 of 2008.
The accused Mariama Kebbie, a trader of Dauda Town; Lahai Sannoh, a diamond miner from Konia Village; Joseph Koroma, a farmer of Kpetama 2 in Lower Bambara Chiefdom; and Vandy Boima, a farmer from Tawahun village in Nyawa chiefdom all in Kenema District, were charged with the offence of possession and prohibited use of drugs, According to court records:
On 6 November 2025, Mariama Kebbie was found with 40 wraps of Kush at Dauda Town, Kenema, on 24 November 2025, Lahai Sannoh was arrested with 14 wraps of Kush at Konia Kpidima Village, on 25 November 2025, Joseph Koroma was found in possession of quantities of Cannabis Sativa and cannabis seeds at Kpetama 2, on 4 November 2025, Vandy Boima was caught with 59 wraps of Kush at Tawahun Village.
Bail was denied for all four accused persons, who were remanded at the Sierra Leone Correctional Centre (SLCC) in Kenema pending their high court trial, delivering his ruling, Magistrate Daboh stated that the prosecution had sufficiently established a prima facie case against the defendants, he expressed strong concern over the rise of Kush and other narcotic substances in the country, describing them as a major threat to Sierra Leone’s youth.
Kush and other narcotic drugs have caused immense harm to the youths of this nation, he said. The Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Komba Kamanda, has issued a memorandum to respond to the illegal production, distribution, and use of drugs under the National drugs Control Act 2008, this Practice Direction took effect on December 1, 2025.
The matters were prosecuted by Police Sergeant David Idriss, PC 15361 Vonja Thomas, PC 13576 Sillah Fatmata, and PC 13563 Zainab Fornah, the cases will now proceed to the High Court for full trial.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday, 5th December 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
