By Alvin Lansana Kargbo
Justice Momoh Jah Stevens of the High Court of Sierra Leone has sentenced George Adams to 150 years imprisonment for treason, misprision of treason and murder, stemming from the alleged failed coup attempt in November 26 2023. The sentences, which are to be served consecutively, were handed down following the unanimous guilty verdict by a jury.
George Adams received 75 years imprisonment for treason, 5 years for misprision of treason and 70 years for murder. These sentences are to be served separately, not concurrently, as ordered by the court.
It was outlined during the trial that George Adams, between November 11 and 26, 2023, conspired with unidentified individuals to overthrow the Sierra Leonean Government through unlawful means. Evidence was also presented showing that George Adams and his co-conspirators planned to seize key military installations, including the 5th Infantry Battalion Headquarters at Wilberforce Barracks and the 3rd Infantry Brigade Headquarters, as well as the Sierra Leone Correctional Centers in Freetown.
It was further revealed that George Adams and his associates forcibly broke into both the Male and Female Correctional Centers in Freetown, unlawfully releasing inmates. This violent act, prosecutors argued, was part of a broader scheme to destabilize the country and establish control.
George Adams was also found guilty of concealing treasonous activities by individuals such as Amadu Koita and Captain Jalloh, despite being aware of their plans. This omission, categorized as misprision of treason, earned him a separate five-year sentence.
Additionally, there is a murder charge against George Adams related to the killing of Obi Isaac Johnson on November 26, 2023, at the Pademba Road Correctional Center. This crime, prosecuted under the amended Offenses Against the Persons Act of 1861, reflected the abolition of the death penalty as per the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2022. George was sentenced to 70 years for this heinous act.
In delivering the sentence, Justice Momoh Jah Stevens emphasized the severity of George Adams’s actions, describing them as an affront to Sierra Leone’s democracy and a grave betrayal of national trust. The court’s decision sends a strong message that subversive activities and violence will not be tolerated under the rule of law.
