The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the SierraLeone Police has arrested and detained lawyer Joy Precious Bayoh on allegations of cyberstalking PresidentBio. This arrest follows a tweet by Bayoh, where she challenged the legitimacy of Tuma Adama Jabbie as the President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association.
On June 11, 2024, President Bio shared a tweet reaffirming Tuma Adama Jabbie’s position. In response, Bayoh posted a critical reply, reflecting the sentiments of many lawyers who do not recognize Jabbie as their representative. Bayoh’s tweet read:
“Sir even you yone legitimacy highly questionable. Tuma ein yone sef questionable. So just inform the public what you received is a number of lawyers. Tuma does not represent the Bar Association Executive.”
The Sierra Leone Police have interpreted this tweet as cyberstalking, leading to Bayoh’s arrest. The CID’s swift action has sparked a debate on freedom of expression and the boundaries of lawful criticism in Sierra Leone.
The arrest has drawn reactions from various quarters, particularly within the legal community. Several lawyers have expressed concern over what they perceive as an attempt to stifle dissenting voices and limit the right to free speech.
Bayoh’s arrest adds to the growing discourse on the use of social media and the legal ramifications of online speech. The case raises important questions about the balance between protecting public figures from cyber harassment and upholding the fundamental rights of individuals especially of lawyers to express their opinions.
