Inspector Abubakarr Kargbo has on Monday 3 March, 2025 before Justice Alhaji Momoh Jah Stevens tender the voluntary caution statements of the first accused Alie Badara Kanu which he made to the police base on the allegations that he and the second accused Thaimu Bangura conspired with other person’s to overthrow the government of Sierra Leone.

Led in evidence by state counsel Yusuf Isaac Sesay, the witness

Detective Inspector Abubakarr Kargbo said he is attached at the  Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters as an investigator.

He recognized both accused persons in the dock and recalled on 21 April 2024.

He said on that day, whiles on duty he received a report in respect of treason and the matter was allocated to him for investigation.

The police witness further that he collected the mobile phones of the first accused Badara and handed it over to the cyber unit of the said station for forensic examination and analysis.

Witness Kargbo further on the same day,  he and Inspector Hassan Dumbuya interview the first accused person Alie Badara Kanu by observing the judges rules but said the interview was terminated due to further enquires that was ongoing by the investigating team.

He continues that on the 25 April 2024, him and Inspector Dumbuya recommence the interview based on what the first accused said that he wanted to make revelation.

The police witness further that the first accused Badara was cautioned and questions again by observing the judges rules and after the voluntary caution statements they waited for the reply from the cyber unit.

He said on the 27 June 2024, he and Inspector Dumbuya recommence the interview of Alie Badara base on the information received by the cyber unit.

The caution statement of the first accused Alie Badara Kanu was tendered before the court as exhibit B1-33 to form part of the prosecution case.

Reading the statement of the first accused Alie Badara Kanu he denied the allegation.

In his statement he said he was a former Military Officer rank captain and had served for thirty-three (33) years in the military as a quarter master.

Badara in his statement said he was deployed at 4 battalion in Makeni.

Badara in his statement further that after retirement he was at Makeni doing construction work but later decided to came to Waterloo to visit his family where he met his junior worker Ceaser.

The witness said Badara in his statement further told the police that he visited Ceaser in his house and there he came in contact with one Captain John and one Senessie who told him that they needed to recruit men to help them removed both the APC and SLPP party in the country.

The witness further that Bdara told them that it would be difficult for them to accomplished this task as both parties has big people who are of high esteem.

Badara in his statement when read said Ceaser told him that the actual plan to overthrow the government should occur on the 19 June 2024 as it was the expering date for the tripartite committee.

The witness said Badara said he was later arrested base on the allegations levied against him.

After reading the statements of Badara, the witness further that on 29 July 2024 he charged the accused with the offenses of treason and misprision of treason which was also done by observing the judges rules.

The charge statements of Badara was tendered before the court and was mark as exhibit C1-2.

The witness was cross examined by defense counsel S. Turay on behalf of the first accused Badara.

The accused were arraigned before the court on two count charges of treason contrary to section 3 (1) (a) of the treason and state offences Act 1963 Act No.10 of 1963 as repealed and replaced by the treason and state offences amendment Act 1963 Act No.21 of 1963 and misprision of treason

The indictment state that the accused on a date unknown between 24th June 2023 and 29th June 2024 in Freetown prepared to overthrow the government of Sierra Leone by unlawful means

The indictment further that the accused between the 1st January and 16th April 2024 in Freetown, well knowing that Captain Senesie, captain John Conteh, Caesar and other persons unknown had prepared to overthrow the government of Sierra Leone by unlawful means, unlawfully concealed the said information.

Both accused were remanded in custody. The matter adjourned to the 4th March 2025.