Sierra Leone’s Appeal Court, presided over by Justice Tonia Barnett, on Tuesday, 4th March 2025, dismissed all cybercrime charges against reality TV personality Hawa Madiana Hunt.
The ruling also directed authorities to return Hunt’s Canadian and Sierra Leonean passports, which had been seized during legal proceedings.
Hunt was initially charged under the Cybersecurity and Crime Act 2021 (Act No. 7 of 2021) with two counts of allegedly transmitting insulting messages via a computer system. The charges stemmed from Facebook posts made between 1st April and 30th April 2024, which prosecutors claimed were intended to insult President Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Fatima Bio, harm their reputations, and provoke public unrest.
After spending several months in detention, Hunt pleaded not guilty upon her arraignment. However, during Tuesday’s hearing, Lead Prosecutor Yusuf Isaac Sesay informed the court that the prosecution would present no further evidence against her. He cited Section 66(4)(C) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, which grants the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) the authority to discontinue a case before judgment.
The decision followed a public statement by First Lady Fatima Bio, who, in a widely circulated video, denied any involvement in Hunt’s arrest. While acknowledging past grievances over personal attacks, she appealed for Hunt’s release.
In response, Defense Counsel Rashid Dumbuya thanked the DPP and the Attorney General’s Office for discontinuing the prosecution. He also requested the court to order the return of Hunt’s travel documents, which had been held by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
