Justice Adrian Fisher of the High Court in Freetown has sentenced Alpha Sheriff, popularly known as “APC Sheriff,” and Amadu Saidu Fofanah to five years in prison for operating a private security company without a license, in violation of the National Security and Central Intelligence Act 2023.
The sentencing, delivered on Friday, 25th April 2025, includes time already served—22 months spent on remand. The two convicts are the first individuals to be sentenced under the new legislation.
In addition to the primary conviction, Alpha Sheriff was also found guilty on two additional charges: unlawful possession of small arms and unlawful concealment of arms. For these charges, he was sentenced to time already served.
Justice Fisher recounted that the case dated back to 7th June 2023, when Sheriff and Fofanah, along with nine others, were intercepted in a white Land Cruiser after bulldozing a police checkpoint en route to Bo. Security personnel discovered a pistol, pepper spray, military boots, green face masks, a military compass, and other suspicious items in the vehicle.
In police statements, both convicts admitted they were part of a security unit providing protection for the then opposition All People’s Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Dr. Samura Kamara, and his running mate, Hon. Chernor Maju Bah. Sheriff disclosed they were part of a group of ten when their vehicle was intercepted. Fofanah also claimed they were members of a group called “Samuco” and admitted carrying pepper spray and a penknife.
Prosecutors submitted that the convicts’ possession of offensive items posed a threat to national security. While they initially admitted guilt in police custody, both later pleaded not guilty in court, leading to a full trial. The prosecution pushed for a 20-year sentence on the main charges and five years on the lesser counts, citing the expense of transporting witnesses from the provinces due to the change in plea.
Defence counsel, former Attorney General Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, pleaded for leniency. He noted that both men were first-time offenders with no prior criminal record. He said Sheriff’s daughter was seriously ill, and Fofanah’s two children had been forced out of school due to financial hardship, with their mother unemployed. Kamara emphasized that the men had expressed remorse and returned voluntarily after the 2023 prison break during a failed coup attempt.
Justice Fisher, however, emphasized the seriousness of the offense, particularly given the timing—during an election period—and the nature of the items found in their possession. He pointed out that by law, the minimum sentence for operating an unlicensed private security outfit is five years or a fine of not less than NLe 50,000. For the other offenses, the penalty is a minimum of 12 months or a fine of at least five million old Leones. The judge noted that since the convicts lacked the means to pay the fines, custodial sentences were imposed.
In their final pleas, both Sheriff and Fofanah expressed deep regret for their actions and asked the court for mercy. Sheriff admitted he should have known better, adding that his businesses had collapsed during his incarceration.
The two were among nine accused persons originally charged during the preliminary investigation at Pademba Road Magistrate Court. Seven of the accused reportedly escaped during the 26th November 2023 failed coup and subsequent prison break.
The conviction and sentencing mark a significant enforcement of the country’s new security laws and a stern warning against unauthorized security operations.
By Feima Sesay
