By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
Lawyer Africanus Sorie Sesay representing Defendant Former president Koroma and former APC secretary General Osman Yansaneh made an application for a bench warrant for the Plaintiff Alfred Peter Conteh because of his absence in court.
He further noted that a change of solicitor by the plaintiff Alfred Peter Conteh has been made in the contempt of court matter.
In response Alfred Peter Conteh`s Lawyer Jengo said his client called him last night noting that he saw the papers filed in a number WhatsApp group but pointed out that those papers have not been served to him yet and that he was told that the matter comes up yesterday.
Lawyer Jengo said his client Alfred Peter Conteh is in the provinces taking care of family issues and that a change of solicitor had been made, and a paper for a contempt of court proceedings had been made for the plaintiff, and he said if such had been made to his notice, he would have informed the plaintiff to be present at all cost.
Lawyer Jengo stated that he knows that his colleagues have not received the same.
Lawyer Jengo said he knows that the institution APC is under a 21 man committee and if anything has to be changed his client would have had knowledge of it because he is the chairman for the committee.
He pleaded with the court that the application for bench warrant by third defendant to be discountenance, reason been his client had not been served, for which the procedure his client ought to have been served.
Lawyer Jengo also pleaded that a date be accorded to them in the interest of justice to help them do their own necessary papers.
Lawyer Africanus Sesay said on the issue of him not been told according to law he confirmed that they served the plaintiff and that the plaintiff threw at them the papers, reason being his lawyer was not served nor aware of it.
Lawyer Jengo objected he said his client is a respecter of the court even when he saw the notice through social media he instructed him as his solicitor to be in court.
The judge said he would have issued a bench warrant but the reason why he is not doing it, is because people are using the court to score political points but said if he does there will be a lot of noise and told Lawyer Jengo that if his client is not present for hearing in the next adjourned date there will be a bench warrant for him.
Justice Fisher said that both his lawyer and he are aware of the proceedings and that he ought to be in court today at 9:30 and noted that the court takes matters of contempt very seriously.
He concluded that he is going to make specific orders for Alfred Peter Conteh to be in court or else he will be issued a bench warrant.
