Siaka Steven Street High Court building where the military personnel were sentenced
Two military coup plotters, Alie Badara Kanu and Thaimu Bangura were on Monday 24 March 2025 sentenced to 120 years imprisonment each by Justice Alhaji Momoh Jah Stevens after a 12-member jury found them guilty of treason.
Kanu and Bangura were convicted on two counts of treason contrary to Section 3 (1) (a) of the Treason and State Offenses Act of 1963, Misprision of Treason-Failing to report knowledge of a planned coup.
It was alleged that, the two officers conspired between June 24, 2023, and June 29, 2024, in Freetown, to unlawfully remove the government.
It further alleged that between January 1 and April 16, 2024, they knew of a plot involving Captain Senesie, Captain John Conteh (alias Caesar), and others but failed to report it to authorities.
After deliberation, the jury returned with a unanimous guilty verdict, sealing the fate of both convicts.
Defense lawyers S. Turay representing Kanu and E. Saunder representing Bangura fought hard to convince the jury that the prosecution failed to present solid evidence linking their clients to the alleged coup plot.
Lawyer Turay argued that there was no proof to indicate that Kanu participated in a WhatsApp group, planning to overthrow the government, nor had he been found with weapons or attended any subversive meetings.
He also pointed out that police investigations failed to present telecommunications records proving his client’s involvement.
Lawyer Saunder, questioned the credibility of the police records, highlighting discrepancies, such as errors in his client’s place of birth. He also noted that no mobile service provider was called as a witness to verify the phone numbers linked to his client.
Both lawyers pleaded for acquittal, insisting that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
However, State Prosecutor Yusifu Isaac Sesay maintained that the evidence against the convicts was clear and irrefutable.
He emphasized that multiple witnesses testified that the accused were part of a WhatsApp group coordinating the coup. The convicts attended meetings discussing plans to overthrow the government.
He added that both men made confessional statements to the police.
While delivering his summing-up address, Justice Stevens reminded the jury that treason is one of the gravest offenses in any country. He stressed that Kanu, in his statement, admitted to communicating with Captain Senesie and discussed the use of RPGs in a previous coup attempt.
Bangura used the phrase “kick the bucket,” which the judge interpreted as an indirect reference to assassinations, adding that under the law, once a confession is made further evidence is not required for conviction.
He concluded that the confessions alone were sufficient grounds for a guilty verdict, and the jury ultimately agreed.
Following the guilty verdict, both Kanu and Bangura pleaded for mercies, citing their family responsibilities. Their lawyers also begged the court to consider their status as breadwinners.
However, Justice Stevens was solid, he therefore sentenced each of them to 120 years in prison which to be served consecutively.
These two military personnel were not the first to be sentenced for treason, almost one year now; twelve people have been sentenced for the same offence.
