Criminal proceedings dismissed against defenders of Lifeline Nehemiah Projects
On 18 September 2026, Magistrates’ Court Number 4 in Freetown dismissed the criminal cases brought against human rights defenders, Prince Tommy Williams and Mohammed Turay, in apparent connection with their peaceful defense of Lifeline Nehemiah Projects (LNP). The basis for the dismissal was a lack of evidence.
On 19 May 2026, a hearing before the Magistrates’ Court against Lifeline Nehemiah Projects (LNP) members Mohamed Turay and Prince Tommy Williams was adjourned due to irregular interventions by the plaintiff’s lawyers. The defense lawyer requested the adjournment to ensure a fair trial for Mohamed Turay and Prince Tommy Williams, and protect them from further judicial harassment. The authorities have accused Prince Tommy Williams of riotous conduct, incitement of violence, and throwing of stones, and Mohamed Turay of the disruption of a police operation. Both human rights defenders face charges in separate trials. As Front Line Defenders reported in a previous statement, the human rights defenders appear to be prosecuted and targeted by the authorities in Sierra Leone due to their peaceful defence of LNP and its beneficiaries in Freetown.
Prince Tommy Williams is a human rights defender and the Executive Director of Lifeline Nehemiah Projects (LNP), a civil society organisation working for the rights of vulnerable persons, including children, women, and people with disabilities. He was one of the beneficiaries of LNP in the 1990s and, over the past 25 years, has served in various management roles before becoming its Executive Director in 2019. He is also the Community Engagement and Involvement Lead for the global maternal health research group (CRIBS) at Kings College London and Community Engagement and Involvement Advisory Member for the National Institute for Health and Care Research. Prince Tommy Williams is passionate about engaging and empowering communities and took the lead during the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, working with LNP, Medair, and Oxfam to engage in community education, radio talk shows, supporting quarantined households, and establishing an Ebola treatment centre in one of the outbreak epicentres.
On 18 September 2026, Magistrates’ Court Number 4 in Freetown dismissed the criminal cases brought against human rights defenders, Prince Tommy Williams and Mohammed Turay, in apparent connection with their peaceful defense of Lifeline Nehemiah Projects (LNP). The basis for the dismissal was a lack of evidence.
Prince Tommy Williams is a human rights defender and the Executive Director of LNP. He has served the organisation for over 25 years, notably leading the community response to the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. Mohammed Turay is a human rights defender and the Finance Director of LNP. He manages LNP’s Agricultural Project and blood donation project, and advocates against gender-based violence, child marriage, female genital mutilation, and for girls’ education.
Lifeline Nehemiah Projects (LNP) is a civil society organisation supporting children, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups in Sierra Leone. Since 2020, the organisation has held a freehold title to its compound in Kuntorloh, Freetown from the Ministry of Land. Despite this legal ownership, the Ministry of Social Welfare declared in September 2025 its intention to construct a housing project for people with disabilities on LNP land, an initiative co-funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This initiative has triggered a conflict during which the authorities have disregarded court injunctions and legitimate land ownership, leading to a severe crackdown on those resisting the seizure.
The dismissal brings an end to nine months of criminal proceedings, marked by repeated delays. During this period, Prince Tommy Williams appeared in court 25 times and Mohammed Turay appeared in court 19 times. In December 2025, Prince Tommy Williams was charged with ‘riotous conduct’, disorderly behaviour’, incitement of violence’ and ‘throwing stones.’ In February 2026, Mohammed Turay was charged with ‘incitement’ and ‘obstruction of police duty.’
While welcoming the dismissal, both human rights defenders continue to raise concerns about the lack of investigation into alleged police violence against them. Additionally, personal belongings confiscated by the police, including Prince Tommy Williams’ phone, have not been returned yet.
In addition, Prince Tommy Williams and Mohammed Turay continue to face intimidation and pressure in connection with ongoing High Court proceedings concerning the ownership of LNP’s land in Kuntorloh, Freetown, including claims by the Ministry of Social Welfare for ownership of the land.
Front Line Defenders remains concerned about the lack of investigation into the allegation of police violence against Prince Tommy Williams and Mohammed Turay. The organisation is equally concerned about allegations of intimidation faced by the defenders amid ongoing civil proceedings. The authorities in Sierra Leone must ensure that Prince Tommy Williams, Mohammed Turay, and members of LNP, are able to carry out their human rights work, free from restrictions and the fear of reprisals.
On 19 May 2026, a hearing before the Magistrates’ Court against Lifeline Nehemiah Projects (LNP) members Mohamed Turay and Prince Tommy Williams was adjourned due to irregular interventions by the plaintiff’s lawyers. The defense lawyer requested the adjournment to ensure a fair trial for Mohamed Turay and Prince Tommy Williams, and protect them from further judicial harassment. The authorities have accused Prince Tommy Williams of riotous conduct, incitement of violence, and throwing of stones, and Mohamed Turay of the disruption of a police operation. Both human rights defenders face charges in separate trials. As Front Line Defenders reported in a previous statement, the human rights defenders appear to be prosecuted and targeted by the authorities in Sierra Leone due to their peaceful defence of LNP and its beneficiaries in Freetown.
Lifeline Nehemiah Projects (LNP) is a civil society organisation supporting children, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups in Sierra Leone. Since 2020, the organisation has held a freehold title to its compound in Kuntorloh, Freetown from the Ministry of Land. Despite this legal ownership, the Ministry of Social Welfare declared in September 2025 its intention to construct a housing project for people with disabilities on LNP land, an initiative co-funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This initiative has triggered a conflict during which the authorities have disregarded court injunctions and legitimate land ownership, leading to a severe crackdown on those resisting the seizure.
Prince Tommy Williams is a human rights defender and the Executive Director of LNP. He has served the organisation for over 25 years, notably leading the community response to the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. Mohamed Turay is a human rights defender and the Finance Director of LNP. He manages LNP’s Agricultural Project and blood donation project, and advocates against gender-based violence, child marriage, female genital mutilation, and for girls’ education.
On 19 May 2026, human rights defenders Mohamed Turay and Prince Tommy Williams attended a hearing relating to their case at the Magistrates’ Court. A police officer, who was one of the key witnesses in the case and was allegedly involved in the violations against LNP staff and beneficiaries in October 2025, was present at the hearing. The Court had previously adjourned the proceedings several times, including on 25 February, 18 March and 25 March 2026, mainly due to the absence of this witness. The police officer testified and was then cross-examined by the defense lawyer. During the cross-examination, the plaintiff’s legal team frequently intervened, interrupting the proceedings and appearing to steer the witness’ answers. The defense lawyer considered these interventions irregular and unethical, and requested an adjournment in order to file a formal complaint with the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General regarding the misconduct of the plaintiffs’ legal team. The plaintiff’s legal team and the judge requested that LNP’s lawyer refrained from filing the formal complaint and the judge adjourned the trial to an indefinite date.
The judicial harassment of the two LNP members is just one example of the targeting they face for their legitimate efforts to protect the LNP's land and the services it provides to vulnerable individuals. Front Line Defenders has previously reported on reprisals against Mohamed Turay and Prince Tommy Williams, including arbitrary arrests, judicial harassment, physical violence and the demolition of LNP facilities. This has also led to severe violations against the LNP community, such as the killing of a two-day-old baby during a tear gas attack on a peaceful assembly in October 2025.
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned by the latest developments in this case, particularly the conduct of the legal proceedings, which demonstrate an ongoing pattern of judicial harassment and an attempt to silence LNP defenders Mohamed Turay and Prince Tommy Williams. Front Line Defenders also calls on UNDP representatives in Sierra Leone and West Africa, as a principal financial stakeholder of the project, to closely monitor these procedures.
Front Line Defenders calls on the authorities in Sierra Leone to:
- Immediately drop all charges against human rights defenders Mohamed Turay and Prince Tommy Williams, as they appear to be a reprisal for their legitimate and peaceful work defending human rights;
- Ensure fair and independent judicial proceedings, and cease all forms of judicial harassment;
- Ensure that no further human rights violations are committed against LNP staff and beneficiaries;
- Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Sierra Leone are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions, including judicial harassment.
