By Amin Kef Sesay
In order to translate what has so far transpired in terms of repealing of the criminal libel law, Anthony Brewah, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice on the 16th November 2020 applied to Magistrate Hannah Bonnie to Nolle Prosequi (drop all charges) of Seditious and Criminal Libel against Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden which was ongoing at Magistrate Court Number 1 presided over by Magistrate Hannah Bonnie. Other cases were also asked to be dropped.
Addressing the media, the Attorney General stated that he is acting on instructions from His Excellency the President Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio to discontinue the legal actions as the Seditious Libel Law has been repealed and is no more in the country’s law books.
The Minister underscored that Government was not forced to repeal the bad law, also highlighting that it was done based on the manifesto promise made by the President during his campaign.
“It is out of the President’s magnanimity that I was given the instruction to discontinue this matter and all other matters that have to do with seditious Libel in the country; as of today the Government has not only entered nolle prosequi in this matter involving Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, we have also entered nolle prosequi in another matter at the High Court involving one Ibrahim Jalloh which was in front of Justice Ami Wright,” he told the Press.
The Attorney General revealed that they had a lot of evidence against the accused persons in question but they have to follow the instructions of the President and nolle all cases bordering on seditious and criminal libel law.
Discharging the matter, Magistrate Hannah Bonnie directed that the first and second accused, Sylvia Olayinka Blyden and Hussain Muckson Sesay, respectively be discharged of all charges against them, all conditions lodged before the court for fulfilment of bail be released, all records be discharged, and all exhibit touching and concerning the first and second accused be returned to them.
Speaking to the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, he said Government had heeded their call and it happened that Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden became the first beneficiary of the repeal, as the AG declared the libel case against her nolle prosequi; meaning she was acquitted and discharged.
“To us it is a victory for free speech and our growing democracy, we say thanks to President Bio for listening and taking action, and thank you to the Minister of Information and Communications Mohamed Rahman Swaray”.
