By Kadijatu Bangura, Daily Scope
On November 10, 2025, Ibrahim Abdallaha Conteh was committed to the High Court of Sierra Leone by His Worship Harold Kamara, the presiding magistrate at the Mile 91 Magistrate Court. Conteh faces charges of murdering his neighbor, Pa Amidu, in Kumrabai Matuku village, located in the Kholifa Mabang region.
The charges stem from an alleged incident on September 13, 2025, in which Conteh is accused of beheading Pa Amidu and concealing the body on his farm. Due to the serious nature of the allegations, the court conducted committal proceedings to determine if there was enough evidence for Conteh to stand trial.
During these proceedings, the prosecution presented written statements from ten witnesses. Conteh had the opportunity to cross-examine these witnesses in person. Among the evidence submitted was a detailed account from Aminata Gbla, the daughter of the deceased. She stated that Conteh had invited her father to his farm to help scare away birds. When he did not return home, she alerted the Town Chief, who organized a search party.
The search led the team to Conteh’s farm, where attempts to enter were obstructed by Conteh himself. As they investigated, a dog began digging at a site, revealing a decomposed body dressed in clothing matching that of Pa Amidu. Conteh reportedly fled but was later apprehended by authorities.
Eye-witness testimony indicated that Conteh violently attacked Amidu while he was seated, subsequently tying him up and committing the murder in graphic detail. Additional witnesses corroborated the events surrounding the body’s discovery and Conteh’s attempts to hinder the search efforts.
Magistrate Kamara emphasized that the purpose of committal proceedings is not to determine guilt or innocence but to ascertain whether sufficient evidence exists for a reasonable judge to convict if it remains unchallenged at trial. He concluded that the provided evidence clearly implicated Conteh in the crime, and thus, he was committed to the High Court. Conteh was remanded to the Moyamba Correctional Centre pending further proceedings, unless granted bail by the court.
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