In the bustling streets of Freetown, on the coast of Sierra Leone, justice often has a face that is unseen, a story untold and it is in most cases fraught with challenges. But for Venicious, a sailor from Burkina Faso, the efforts of the Legal Aid Board – Sierra Leone ensured his rights were upheld, and his story just like many others that have benefitted from the Board, became a testament to the power of access to justice, even for the most vulnerable and deprived.
Venicious’s ordeal in Sierra Leone started sometimes in September 2024, when he disembarked from his stranded boat off the Sierra Leone coast at Bonthe Island to buy a pack of cigarettes. His routine walks to the Island’s shops turned into a nightmare. He was arrested by the Sierra Leone Police and subsequently charged to court with the offence of “Loitering with Intent”, an offence he had never intended to commit. What followed after that was a lengthy period of uncertainty which was marked with approximately twelve months of incarceration for the young sailor. During that difficult period, his rights, his health, and his future were all at risk.
On the 18th of September 2024, Venicious appeared before His Worship, Magistrate Momoh Lansana in the Bonthe Magistrate Court. The case was adjourned, and he was remanded in custody, his freedom slipping further away with each passing day. Yet, amid the fog of confusion and fear, one thing remained certain; Venicious needed help and that help would come from an unlikely source: – the Legal Aid Board – Sierra Leone.
The Legal Aid Board, a vital justice sector institution with mandate to ensure that everyone, regardless of their socio-economic status in society and nationality, has access to legal representation and advice among others, took up Venicious’s case with the determination and passion that it is known for. In the midst of his incarceration, Venicious’s health deteriorated rapidly, prompting his transfer to the Freetown Male Correctional Centre on October 2nd, 2025.
While in Freetown, the Director of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service, Joseph Senesie, and his team of Correctional Service Officers picked him out during a routine check of inmates. Director Senessie, then promptly informed the Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles, who in turn wrote the Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Komba Kamanda informing him about the said issue. Chief Justice Komba Kamanda swiftly responded by assigning a judge, Honourable Justice Jamestina King, to sit on the matter. The Director of Public Prosecutions was also alerted and he responded by submitting to a ‘no case’ against the accused person.
Also Burkina Faso being far from Sierra Leone became an issue and as a result, the Chief Justice, the Honourable Justice Jamestina King, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Executive Director sought the telephone number of the Burkinabe Consul to Sierra Leone. Immediately the number was provided to the Legal Aid Board, the call was made and the Consul was requested to come to the Law Courts building at Siaka Steven Street to verify the claims of the inmate that he is a Burkinabe citizen.
Ms Carlton-Hanciles then assigned the matter to the Legal Aid Board Manager, Counsel Cecilia Tucker Esq, who immediately filed for a writ of Habeas Corpus; a legal mechanism that challenges unlawful detention. Ms Tucker argued that Venicious’s pre-trial imprisonment was not only unjust but also detrimental to his health and thus called for his matter to be heard and released.
And on 14th October 2025, in a landmark moment, Venicious was brought to court and his matter was heard before the Honourable Justice Jamestina King. Justice King’s decision was swift and clear: ‘Venicious is discharged on medical grounds.’ This pronouncement was made following the submissions of both the State Counsel, Aruna Jalloh Esq and Counsel Cecilia Tucker Esq, on the merits and demerits of setting the accused person free.
The ruling was made in the presence of Mr Sheku Dumbuya, the representative of the Burkinabe Consul in Sierra Leone. The judge ordered the Consul through his representative to ensure Venicious is ‘safely repatriated’ to Burkina Faso within a period of seven days. He further ordered the Consulate to write the Chief Justice on the outcome of the repatriation and to forward copies of the said letter to the Legal Aid Board, the Director of Public Prosecutions and herself.
But this was not the end of Venicious’s matter, it was a new beginning. The Legal Aid Board, true to its commitment to both justice and human dignity, ensured that he was immediately handed over to the Burkina Faso Consulate representative for repatriation. This was officially done at the Board’s head office at Wilberforce Street in Freetown. While there, Venicious was personally addressed by the Executive Director of the Board, Ms Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles, who had worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure his release and subsequent repatriation. His gratitude was immeasurable. As he shook hands with the Executive Director, a spark of hope flickered in his eyes. He was not just ecstatic; he was not just someone that might have fallen foul of the law in another man’s country. He is a human being and the Legal Aid Board had ensured that his voice was heard, his rights were protected, and his future was restored.
Venicious’s case is just one of the many powerful reminders that justice is not just about the law, it is also about ensuring that no one, regardless of their background or nationality, is left to navigate the system alone. The Legal Aid Board’s intervention was not just a victory in court; it was a victory for human dignity and the fundamental right to fair treatment. It was a testament to the Board’s core mandate among others of providing free legal advice and representation for all who reside in Sierra Leone. It is also a testament in ensuring that no one is denied access to justice due to their circumstances.
Through its tireless work, the Legal Aid Board reaffirmed the importance of access to justice for all. For Venicious, it meant a ‘safe’ return as the judge puts it to ‘his home country and the chance to rebuild his life.’ For Sierra Leone, it was a moment to celebrate the strengths of the Legal Aid Board and the country’s legal system.
This is not just the story of a man who found justice in a country outside his motherland, but about a nation that has chosen to prioritize the well-being and rights of all its residents, regardless of where they come from, through the Legal Aid Board – Sierra Leone. And for Venicious, it is the story of a new beginning, made possible by the unwavering commitment of the Legal Aid Board. The Board remains accessible, inclusive, and just for everyone within its reach.
