Edmond Abu’s committal has been suspended for 12 months

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Social Media influencer, Mystic Dwarzark posted on his Facebook page on Saturday 20th January 2023 “Edmond Abu a Civil Society Activist, has been released from prisoner after serving 9 out of a 21 day committal to jail on contempt charges. He however, has a one-year suspended sentence and may go back to jail if he repeats his conduct.”

Fact-Checkers Comments

Edmond Abu Jr’s committal has been suspended for 12 months. He was held in custody for contempt of court. The Sierra Leone’s judiciary on 20th Friday 2023, stated that the High Court Judge, Justice Adrian Fisher has suspended the committal to prison on the Executive Director of Native Consortium and Research Centre (NCRC), Edmond Abu Jr for 12 months.


By Abdul Aziz Samura

Social Media influencer, Mystic Dwarzark posted on his Facebook page on Saturday 20th January 2023 “Edmond Abu a Civil Society Activist, has been released from prisoner after serving 9 out a 21-day committal to jail on contempt charges. He, however, has a one-year suspended sentence and may go back to jail if he repeats his conduct.”

the Sierra Leone’s judiciary on 20th Friday 2023, stated that the High Court Judge, Justice Adrian Fisher has suspended the committal to prison of the Executive Director of Native Consortium and Research Centre (NCRC), Edmond Abu Jr. for 12 months.

Part of the condition attached to his release is that he should not repeat the conduct for which he was committed to prison, which was ‘’contempt of court’’. After he openly apologized in court prior to his release.

A statement issued by the Judiciary of Sierra Leone states as follows:

1. That the order of committal of Mr Edmund Abu Jnr to prison for 21 days is suspended for a period of twelve months from the date of this order, on condition that Mr Edmund Abu Jnr does not repeat his conduct. Should there be any further conduct amounting to contempt of court, additional contempt proceedings would be instituted against Mr Abu for this contempt in addition to the new occurrences of contempt.

2. That the undersheriff of the High Court shall serve a copy of this order on the contemnor Mr Edmund Abu Jnr, forthwith and prior to his release from custody, in accordance with the provisions of Order 51 rule 6 sub rule 2 of the High Court Rules 2007.

3. There shall be no orders as to costs.”

Edmond Abu Jr., the Executive Director of Native Consortium and Research Centre, was on Monday January 9 arrested and detained for contempt. 

Civil Society Organisations (CSOS), including the Amnesty International Sierra Leone, Human Rights Defenders Network-SL, and Institute for Governance Reform (IGR) called on the judiciary to immediately release Edmond Abu Jr. within the bounds of the law.

The press release issued on Wednesday January 11,2023 reads.

“We also wish to call on the judiciary to adopt a more proactive approach in educating citizens especially activists and journalists on what constitutes CONTEMPT, with a view to building stronger partnerships and relationships between and among different sectors in society. This is even more imperative in view of the growth of social media and the dawning 2023 elections later this year”.

Edmond Abu and 300 members of the public filed a motion five-years ago against 1st defendant- Africell Sierra Leone Limited, 2nd defendant Orange Sierra Leone, 3rd defendant Sierra tell  and 4th defendant National Telecommunications Commission for breaching and failing to comply with the requirement to provide free calls by way of compensation in conformity with the 4th defendant’s instructions.

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