Mariama Benji was released from detention at the Criminal Investigations Department where she was held in connection with allegations linked to the paternity of a child. The case attracted public attention because the allegations touch on the Office of the President and involve circulating audio recordings.
In a video that went viral after her release, Mariama Benji said she was released after Admire Bio personally went to the CID to request her release. According to her testimony, this was not in line with the formal process for bail. She said there was no bail condition, no formal documentation, no court involvement, and no standard police procedure.
If what she has said is true, it raises very fundamental questions about the manner in which the system of justice operates. There are rules that guide detention and release by the CID. Suspects are usually granted bail under specified conditions, charged to court, or discharged through documented police procedures. Any deviation from that procedure brings into question the integrity of the Sierra Leone Police.
This issue has gained traction, not because of who Mariama Benji is, but due to what her account insinuates. Many citizens were detained for similar or lesser issues and forced to meet stringent bail conditions or taken to court, and some were even remanded to Pademba Road Prison because they lacked influence or strong connections.
The public concern is, therefore, focused on process and accountability. People want to know why Admire Bio was able to intervene, under which law the release was carried out, and why standard procedures were reportedly ignored. These questions are important because the law is meant to apply equally to everyone.
Where police procedures seem bypassed, the message that emerges is deeply troubling-that justice may depend on who you know. That perception cuts at trust in state institutions and undermines confidence in the rule of law.
The Sierra Leone Police bear the responsibility for explaining what took place. A clear explanation will go a long way to reassure the worried public and preserve the integrity of justice. Anything less, like silence or delay, will further entrench suspicion.
Read Also: Mariama Benjie Questioned by CID Over Audio Recordings on Child Paternity Claim
This is not a case about defending Mariama Benji or attacking the President, but one of observing due process, protecting institutions, and ensuring that justice never appears to be selective.
