By Mamajah Jalloh
FREETOWN — Five defendants, including businessmen Yusif Turay, Ishmeal Nat Thomas, Hassan Gibrill Kargbo, Alhaji Ssbtigie Sesay, agent Ibrahim Thullah, and student Sheriff Osman Sankoh, appeared before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 on Wednesday, 10th December 2025, facing serious fraud-related charges.
The accused are charged with conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the law, and larceny by servant under Section 17 (1) (a) of the Larceny Act of 1916. The offenses allegedly occurred between Monday, 24th March 2025, and Tuesday, 25th March 2025, at various Access Bank Sierra Leone Limited branches in Freetown.
According to the charges, the defendants conspired to defraud Orange Mobile Finance Limited of Nineteen Million, Eight Hundred Seventy-Eight Thousand, Three Hundred and Sixty Leones (NLe 19,878,360). The indictment alleges that the defendants, acting as agents of Orange Mobile Finance Limited, misappropriated the same sum from Bank Account Number 0010160000326, operated by Orange Money Wallet Collection, through the Orange Money Wallet-to-Bank transaction platform.
When the charges were read and explained, no plea was entered by the defendants.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Dialla Wellington, prosecuting the case, opposed the defence’s no-case submission, arguing that sufficient evidence had been presented.
Defence Counsel S.L. Lewis had submitted a no-case submission, asserting the prosecution had not made a case against the defendants.
However, Magistrate Fornah reviewed both submissions and ruled that the prosecution had indeed provided adequate evidence to warrant committal. He dismissed the defence’s no-case submission and ordered that all defendants be committed to stand trial at the High Court.
The magistrate maintained the existing bail conditions for all defendants, pursuant to Section 116 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 2024.
