A cyberbullying case involving a lecturer at Milton Margai College has been committed to the High Court for trial following a preliminary hearing at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 2 in Freetown.
Tejan Rogers, a lecturer at the college’s Goderich campus, is facing two counts of cyberstalking and cyberbullying contrary to Section 44(2)(b) of the Cybersecurity and Crime Act of 2001. The charges stem from alleged threats and defamatory posts directed at Dr. Philip John Kanu, the Chancellor of the university.
According to the charge sheet, between November 1 and November 30, 2022, Rogers allegedly used a WhatsApp group named “Maada Must Stay Campaign” to circulate audio recordings and text messages that were considered false, threatening, and damaging to Dr. Kanu’s reputation. The messages were said to be capable of provoking public apprehension and breaching the peace.
Lead prosecutor Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Joan Bull informed the court that the prosecution had closed its case. She emphasized that the evidence presented, including witness testimonies, sufficiently supported the charges against the accused.
Defense counsel Zacharia Kanu, however, applied to the court for media reporting on the case to be restricted, noting that a previous magistrate had opted to hear the case in chambers to limit public exposure. But ACP Bull opposed the request, stating that the prosecution was not against media coverage.
In his ruling, Magistrate John Manso Fornah rejected the call to restrict press coverage and instead urged the media to report proceedings accurately and responsibly.
Magistrate Fornah concluded that the prosecution had made a prima facie case against Rogers and that the witness evidence was consistent and credible. “I am satisfied that the prosecution has proven its case beyond reasonable doubt,” he said before committing the matter to the High Court for further trial.
The case marks one of the first high-profile prosecutions under Sierra Leone’s Cybersecurity and Crime Act of 2001, which aims to combat online abuse and harassment.
By Feima Sesay
