Alpha Sheriff, popularly known as APC Sheriff, along with co-defendant Amadu Saidu Fofanah, have been released in accordance with Resolution 4 of the Unity Agreement.

Sheriff and Fofanah were initially convicted by Honorable Justice Adrian Fisher at the High Court in Freetown and sentenced to five years in prison under the National Security and Central Intelligence Act of 2023. Their sentence included 22 months already served in pre-trial detention, making them the first individuals to be convicted under the new legislation.

Alpha Sheriff, aka APC Sheriff, was handed over to Hon Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah aka Hon. Chericoco earlier today, 14th August 2025 in Freetown.

Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr described the day as one of “mixed blessings” in a social media post, noting her delight that, under Resolution 4 of the Unity Agreement, Alpha Sheriff had been released and all charges or investigations against 37 APC members most of whom had been in exile had been dropped. She also reflected on the solemn significance of the date, marking the third anniversary of the killing of Evangelist Samson, to whom she paid tribute.

Alpha “APC” Sheriff was arrested in Bo on June 7, 2023, while campaigning with APC running mate Hon. Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah, and charged with running an illegal security company, possessing unlicensed firearms, and concealing weapons.

Prosecutors sought a 20-year sentence, citing national security concerns, while his lawyer, Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, appealed for leniency. Convicted by Justice Adrian Fisher, Sheriff’s firearms sentence was offset by time served.

He and co-defendant Amadu Saidu Fofanah were also accused of links to a November 26, 2023, alleged attempted coup and prison break, during which Sheriff briefly escaped from Pademba Road Prison before being recaptured in Gloucester.