The Arrogance of Power, and the Injustice of the state of the Country we call Sierra Leone at 65

Conviction, Sentencing, and the Cost of Standing Outside the Political Circle — The Zainab Sheriff Case Study.

Sierra Leone at 65 is not simply a celebration of independence; it is also a moment to examine how power has been exercised, how justice has been distributed, and why many citizens still feel left behind. Six and a half decades after freedom from colonial rule, too many people remain trapped under the weight of corrupt leadership, unequal justice, and a political culture that serves the powerful while neglecting the public.

The real problem is not just that power exists, but that it is so often exercised with arrogance. Too many leaders behave as though the state belongs to them, when in truth it belongs to the citizens who sustain it. That is the heart of the matter: power without humility becomes oppression, and authority without accountability becomes abuse.

The injustice of the state is visible everywhere. It appears in the gap between the privileged and the poor, in the weakness of institutions that should protect citizens, and in a system where justice can feel selective. For ordinary Sierra Leoneans, the state is often present when it demands obedience, but absent when it should deliver fairness, opportunity, and protection.

Against this backdrop, the conviction and sentencing of Zainab Sheriff cannot be viewed in isolation. Her case has become part of a larger and troubling pattern in which those who stand outside the current political spectrum appear more vulnerable to harsh treatment, selective prosecution, and institutional unfairness. In such an environment, justice begins to look less like a neutral principle and more like a tool of political control.

What good is independence if hospitals remain under-resourced, schools underperform, jobs are scarce, and public trust continues to collapse? What does sovereignty mean when the promise of nationhood has not been matched by justice on the ground? These are the questions Sierra Leone must confront honestly if it is to move beyond symbolism and into real nation-building.

This is why the celebration of independence cannot be separated from criticism of governance. A nation cannot build a future by pretending its failures do not exist. Sierra Leone must face the hard truth that arrogance in power and injustice in the state are not minor flaws; they are forces that continue to hold the country back.

If independence is to mean anything at all, then it must mean liberation from fear, corruption, inequality, and the misuse of authority. Until that happens, 65 years is not only a milestone. It is an indictment.

Sierra Leone does not need more speeches that celebrate survival while ignoring suffering. It needs accountability. It needs institutions that are stronger than politics. It needs a justice system that does not bend under pressure or punish people for standing on the wrong side of power.

“Zainab Sheriff should be released immediately and compensated for all the inconvenience she has experienced. Zainab is the only courageous individual who suggested a deterrent to eradicate fraud in Sierra Leone for good. ”

— Source: IMRAN T. vol. 1 & 2 in audio.

In the case of The Inspector General of Police v. Zainab Sheriff, Magistrate Brima Jah imposed a sentence of four years and two months, to run consecutively. However, many argue that her actions were a legitimate exercise of free expression. They also point out that the Political Parties Regulation Commission had already imposed a fine in relation to the matter, a penalty they regard as legally questionable, and that this fine was paid by the opposition party. From that perspective, the earlier administrative sanction should have been enough, and the later criminal charges should never have followed.

Key details of the case, as of April 14, 2026:

• Court: Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1.

• Charges: Two counts of incitement and threatening language.

• Sentence: Four years and two months imprisonment (consecutive).

• Context: The case stemmed from comments made by the entertainer and activist regarding elections, which the court found violated the Public Order Act

This is an example of how the authorities and the courts often shield members of the in-group.

In this case, Austin Jonnie’s words were arguably more serious than what Zainab Sheriff was said to have done, yet she was the one locked up. That is not justice; it is selective justice.

Then comes the President of the Republic, Julius Maada Bio, the so-called father of the nation and peace builder. During the Easter weekend in Mattru Jong, Bonthe District, while unveiling the SLPP office, he was reported to have said that anyone in Bonthe who supports the APC should “die early in the morning.” Yet there was no apology to the nation and no visible action from the PPRC. That silence only deepened the impression of selective justice.

Note: To enlarge the video view, use the pinch gesture or tap the blue circle on the video player.

Sierra Leone cannot continue to celebrate independence while ignoring the moral crisis at the center of its politics. When power is treated as ownership, when institutions bend for the favored and crush the vulnerable, and when justice is applied unevenly depending on who speaks and who is silenced, then the state ceases to serve the nation and begins to betray it. That is the true arrogance of power: not only that it speaks loudly, but that it believes it can act without consequence.

Until then, every anniversary will remain incomplete, every promise will remain fragile, and every citizen denied fairness will stand as evidence that the country has not yet defeated the arrogance of power.

YAME Digital