Businessmen Committed to High Court …For Disclosing President Bio’s Travelling Manifest

By Fatmata Mohamed Bangura
Two business tycoons, Abdul Kanu and Mohammed Abu Turay, on Tuesday 4th November 2025 made another appearance before Magistrate Mustapha Briama Jah of Pademba Road Court No. 1 for allegedly exposing the travel manifest of President Julius Maada Bio and his entourage during a trip to the United Kingdom.
The accused were arraigned on two counts of wrongful communication of a document, contrary to Section 7(1)(a) of the Treason and State Offences Act of 1963, as amended.
According to the indictment, between 20th and 30th August 2025 in Freetown, Abdul Kanu, being in possession of the President’s travel manifest to the United Kingdom, wrongfully communicated the said document to Mohammed Abu Turay. The indictment further alleges that Mohammed Abu Turay, on the same date, also wrongfully shared the manifest with an individual identified only as “Cash” in Dubai.

When the charges were read and explained to the defendants, no plea was taken.
State Prosecutor Yusif Isaac Sesay Esq. informed the court that the prosecution wished to close its case and that the file was being withdrawn for ruling.
In his ruling, Magistrate Jah stated that, considering the nature of the offences, he had conducted a preliminary investigation into the matter. He emphasized that at this stage, the duty of the prosecution was to adduce sufficient evidence to commit the defendants to trial.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, defence counsel J. Wales Esq. applied for the author of the cyber report to be brought to court for cross-examination. He also requested a status report on the medical condition of the defendants.
In response, the prosecution argued that the court had already ruled on the cyber report issue and that the defense’s renewed application was improper. The prosecution urged the court to dismiss the defence’s request.

After reviewing both submissions, Magistrate Jah held that the defence failed to cite any specific legal provision to support its application. He therefore dismissed the defence’s application and proceeded to determine the matter on its merits.
The magistrate further certified that all prosecution witnesses testified in his presence and that the defendants were given full opportunity to cross-examine them. Having examined the totality of the evidence presented, he ruled that the prosecution had led sufficient evidence to put both defendants on trial.
Consequently, both Abdul Kanu and Mohammed Abu Turay were committed to the High Court without bail and remanded at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown.