In order to qualify for Paramount Chief in the Kono District, candidates must be members of the ancient, all-male Poro Society which do not accept women in their ranks.
[2] Yasmine Jusu-Sheriff, the vice-chair of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, stated she would support Sogbo-Tortu in taking the case to the Supreme Court.
[2] During the legal process, she was escorted by armed police, United Nations officials, and women's rights activists when she attempted to return her home in Sewase, eastern Kono District.
[2] The Supreme Court of Sierra Leone ruled that tradition superseded the 2009 Chieftain Act in this case.
[2] Their decision was that because Sogbo-Tortu was not a member of the Poro Society, she did not fulfill the requirements to stand for the position of Paramount Chief.