By Ragan M. Conteh

The Chairperson of the Committee on Gender and Children’s Affairs, who doubles as the opposition Member of Parliament, Hon Catherine Tarawallie on Thursday 26th June 2025 ordered the detention of Jimmy Gbapi and Moses Gbapi who connived to steal the daughter of Huliamatu Bah until further notice.

A heartbreaking testimony echoed through the walls of Parliament at the New  Administrative  Building as Huliamatu Bah tearfully recounted the disappearance of her 2-year 4 month-old daughter, Jamestina Sowa.

Her emotional appeal was heard by the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, and members of the Committee on Gender and Children’s Affairs.

Bah accused two brother Mr. Moses Gbapi and Jimmy Gbapi, residents of Mosongo village in Kori Chiefdom, of deceptively taking her child under the pretext of enrolling her in a support programme for young mothers. According to Bah, Gbapi assured her that the programme—allegedly based in Freetown—would help her care for her child and that she would be able to visit her daughter regularly.

Speaking before the Administrative Building of Parliament, Bah explained that due to her trust in Gbapi, whom she knew personally, she agreed to travel to Freetown with her daughter, accompanied by his brother, Jimmy Gbapi. Upon arrival, she was taken to an office presented as part of the said programme and asked to sign a document already signed by Gbapi.

Though hesitant, Bah claims she was pressured to sign and subsequently handed her child over to a woman identified as Emma Banya, purportedly the programme coordinator.

Few weeks later, when Bah attempted to visit her daughter, she was denied access. Jimmy Gbapi reportedly told her to always contact him before any visit and shockingly stated that the child “no longer belonged to her.”

Distressed and alarmed, Bah reported the incident to her sister—a police officer at the Waterloo Police Station.

Despite the matter being brought to the attention of law enforcement, Bah lamented that it was not treated with the urgency it deserved, prompting her to take her plea to Parliament.

In response, Chief Moses Gbapi admitted to discussing the child care program with Bah but denied any involvement in an adoption process. He further claimed that he had previously been in a relationship with Bah and believed Jamestina was his biological daughter—a claim Bah has firmly denied.

The Committee on Gender and Children’s Affairs has since launched an investigation.

Chairperson Hon. Catherine Tarawallie has requested the child’s birth certificate and other relevant documents for review.

Both Jimmy Gbapi and representatives from the Ministry also connected to the program were summoned and appear before Parliament yesterday Thursday, June 26, 2025.

After several hours of interrogation, Hon. Tarawallie ordered the detention of Jimmy Gbapi and Moses Gbapi who both conspired to traffic the child out of Sierra Leone.

Hon Tarawallie emphasized their detention demonstrates the seriousness of the case.

Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas had earlier urged the Committee to diligently pursue the truth and ensure justice is served, especially in cases involving vulnerable children.

Preliminary findings suggest that Jamestina Sowa has already been adopted and taken out of Sierra Leone—a development that has heightened the urgency of the ongoing inquiry.