Jimmy B makes a passionate plea for LAJ’s release in an open letter to President Bio

Freetown | 2nd December 2023 | Vertex Media

Legendary Sierra Leonean musician, actor and entrepreneur, Jimmy Bangura, better known as Jimmy B, has made a passionate appeal to His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio for the possible pardoning and release of detained rapper Alhaji Amadu Bah, aka Boss LAJ.

As a respected voice in the entertainment industry, Jimmy B asked for a presidential pardon on a colleague who has already spent two and half years in behind bars for a misdemeanour offence.

In an open letter he to President Bio, Jimmy writes:

“Sir, as Father of the Nation, I ask with great humility that you forgive and show mercy to our brother, your son, LAJ, by pardoning and have him released from prison. I want to believe that the LAJ who went in will come out a different man, a better man, a more positively impactful man to society, by God’s grace.”

The legendary and veteran artist (Jimmy) believes that, despite the ‘many questionable decisions’ Boss LAJ has made in the past, he is now a reformed individual. He went on to highlight his good deeds in the past, referring to him as someone with desirable attributes, selfless, and supportive to his fellow artists in so many ways. He further mentioned that there are some visible changes in the rapper – who recently recorded a sensitization song on drug abuse by discouraging young people from menace of KUSH.

Jimmy B also made mention of LAJ’s patriotic move to willingly turn himself in to the Pa Demba Road Correctional Centre, following the November 26th security incident that saw inmates fled from their custody in Freetown. An act that left many Sierra Leoneans in awe and admiration for the artist.

On June 12, 2022, Boss LAJ was arrested for alleged robbery and 3 other related offences. He was sentenced to 9 years in prison, which sparked public outcry for the high handedness of the courts, after several reported human rights violations on the rapper while in police custody. LAJ was never granted bail during the year-long trial, despite concerns about his poor health condition a few months ago.

Many Sierra Leoneans, including Jimmy B, believe that his release is long over due for the kind of offence he was charged with. Thankfully, LAJ has shown remorse and good attributes during his detention.

By Ibrahim Sorious Samura