By; Amara Thoronka
Alhaji Amadu Bah, a popular Sierra Leonean rapper known by his stage name as “LAJ” or “Boss La”, has voluntarily turned himself in to prison authorities at the Pademba Road Male Correctional Center in Freetown.
It could be recalled that, the Sierra Leone Police had said, in a public notice, that in the early hours of Sunday, November 26th, 2023, some unidentified individuals attempted to break into the military armoury at Wilberforce Barracks in Freetown; and that the same group of assailants proceeded to the Pademba Road and Special Court correctional centres, Kissy Police Station and Calaba Town Police Station; broke open the cells and unlawfully released a good number of prisoners and suspects.
LAJ, who is serving a nine-year imprisonment, was released during the attack on the country’s central prison.
Accompanied by his lawyer, Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai Esq., LAJ could be seen in a viral video being warmly welcomed by prison officers for his decision to return to prison and continue his jail term.
Before turning himself to prison authorities, LAJ and his lawyer made a three-minutes-sixteen-seconds long video which has gone viral.
In the video, LAJ described the incident as unfortunate, emphasizing that he does support such ‘unfortunate situation’.
“It is quite an unfortunate situation. I am not in support of anything that happened yesterday. I don’t like or want that for my country,” he said.
He mentioned that he did not escape but ran out to protect his life, noting that he was forcefully asked out by the attackers.
“I came out because my life was at stake. They [the attackers] forcefully took me out. In my whole life, I have never heard or seen what I witnessed yesterday [the incident],” the rapper explained.
The hip hop star stated that he is a law-abiding person who had decided to voluntarily turn himself to authorities. “I, Alhaji Amadu Bah, as a law-abiding citizen, I am turning myself in to prison authorities. I did not escape, but ran out to save my life,” he expressed.
He concluded his statement by calling on Sierra Leoneans to support the government to develop the country.
“Let us come together as citizens and support the incumbent government of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio to make Sierra Leone a better place for all of us,” he appealed to his fans and Sierra Leoneans in general.
In the same video, Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai – LAJ’s lawyer, said his client has demonstrated an “extraordinary character”.
Lawyer Abdulai posted the said video on his official Facebook handle with the caption: “After the sad incident that took place yesterday with the prison break, earlier today, I took Alhaji Amadu Bah, popularly know as Rapper King Boss La who willing turn himself into the Pademba Road Correctional Services to continue his jail term. My client LAJ continues to demonstrate commitment to being a law-abiding citizen. I enjoy working for people who need legal protection.”
Many Sierra Leoneans have taken to social media to praise the rapper for his voluntary act of returning to prison even when he had the chance to flee and hide.
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Wednesday, November 29th, 2023 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)