By Mamajah Jalloh
Freetown, Sierra Leone – Former military officer Sallieu Jalloh, aged 52, has been formally committed to the High Court by Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah for trial on charges of treason and misprision of treason. This follows the conclusion of preliminary investigations at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1 on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
The accused is alleged to have conspired with other individuals, including Captain Aiah Aba Senessie, Sergeant Bangura of Waterloo, Retired Sergeant Kamara, and others, to acquire AK-47 rifles and orchestrate an attempted overthrow of the Government of Sierra Leone.
According to the prosecution, the conspiracy spanned from January 1, 2024, to March 13, 2025, during which Jalloh is said to have recruited both civilians and military personnel to source firearms and ammunition. On March 8, 2024, he allegedly instructed one Sandy Sesay and his team to be “on standby” for what he described as an “imminent power transition.”
Additionally, between November 26, 2023, and November 26, 2024, Jalloh is accused of concealing treasonous activities involving Captain Senessie and others, constituting the basis for the second count—misprision of treason.
When the charges were read in court, no plea was taken from the accused.
State Prosecutor Yusif Isaac Sesay informed the court that the prosecution had gathered sufficient evidence to proceed with a full trial and subsequently closed the preliminary case.
In delivering his ruling, Magistrate Jah committed the matter to the High Court for a speedy trial, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the need for justice to be served without delay. He further ordered Jalloh’s continued remand at the Male Correctional Center.
This case adds to a growing number of high-profile national security prosecutions and is expected to attract considerable public and legal scrutiny as it proceeds to the High Court.
