Freetown, Sierra Leone – Admire Bio, reported niece of President Julius Maada Bio and popularly known as “Mama of Freetown,” continues to be held at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as police investigations into an alleged gold scam and subsequent armed robbery deepen.
Bio has been in police custody since early June but has not yet been formally charged, raising concerns among the public and media about the length of her detention.
Journalist Melvin Tejan Mansaray, speaking on Liberty Online TV, highlighted provisions in the Criminal Procedure Act of 2025 that generally limit detention without charge and urged the Sierra Leone Police to provide greater transparency on the status of the investigation.
The case centres on allegations that two Italian businessmen were sold fake gold in a transaction reportedly worth between $220,000 and $300,000.
According to reports, the matter escalated when the victims were allegedly attacked and robbed along the Mile 13 axis by individuals linked to the deal. The Italians have submitted bank transfer records and other supporting documents to the police.
While Admire Bio remains in custody, her husband, Dauda Jalloh, also known as Alhaji Dausy, is on the run. Police have declared him wanted in connection with the case and issued a warrant for his arrest. He faces multiple allegations, including conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretences, conspiracy to commit robbery, money laundering, and the illegal sale of minerals.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that family members may be attempting to negotiate an out-of-court settlement, with some sources claiming they have expressed willingness to refund the money allegedly lost by the Italian investors. However, neither the police nor the courts have officially confirmed any such arrangement.
Investigations remain ongoing, and authorities are expected to provide further updates on the high-profile case in the coming days.
