By: Mohamed M. Sesay
Honorable Members of the final Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone, have on Thursday the 8th of December 2022, debated with unified voice in approving Seven High Court Judges and three Appeal Court Judges to serve in the Superior Courts of Judicature of Sierra Leone.
The endorsed Presidential Nominees were; Justice Francis Banks Kamara – Justice of the High Court, Justice Hannah Bonnie – Justice of the High Court; Justice Aggrey Aruna – Justice of the High Court; Justice Adrian Fisher – Justice of the High Court; Justice Mohamed Bawoh – Justice of the High Court; Justice Abdul Sheriff – Justice of the High Court; Justice Abu Bakkar Sannoh – Justice of the High Court; Justice Tonia Barnett – Justice of the Appeal Court; Justice Samuel Omodele Moses Taylor – Justice of the Appeal Court and Justice Michael Patrick Hindolo Mami Jr. – Justice of the Appeal Court.
Seconding the motion, the Opposition Whip, Hon. Hassan Sesay said Parliament was about to approve very important persons to serve as Judges in the High and Appeal Courts of Sierra Leone. He referred to the nominees as qualified and competent for their positions given their respective and exemplary performances over the years. He also referred to them as consummate professionals and urged them to dispense justice fairly for the benefit of the country. In light of recommendations contained in the TRC Report, he called on Judges to be independent and fair in the dispensation of justice as they are people who have earned their reputation over the years and would want to maintain it unscathed.
Leader of C4C, Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina as a male champion in light of the He4She campaign said he was pleased with the promotion of women to serve in the Superior Courts of Judicature. He said he was pleased that Government was implementing the recommendation of the TRC Report on increasing Judges to speedily handle cases before them without fear or favour. Recalling some of the progressive laws that have been passed by the current Parliament assembled, he referred to them as competently qualified to serve and save Sierra Leone. He praised Justice Taylor for effectively handling the C4C matter in Court.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas decried the welfare of Judges and therefore, called for an improved welfare for judges. He added that some civil servants were better catered for than our Judges. He called on Parliament do something to improve the condition of the Judges in light of next year’s budget and also said that Judges were constraints in doing their job ranging from manuscripts painstakingly before judgements were delivered on cases before the courts. He also suggested for the employments of Stenographers and Lawyers to serve as Clerks to Judges to expedite the speedy conclusion of cases.
Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Chernor R.M Bah shared the sentiments expressed by the Deputy Speaker on improving the welfare and conditions of our Judges. He also said that without an impartial and independent judiciary, the survival of the state would be farfetched. Given the nature and enormity of their job, he said our Judges should be taken care of properly. He also heaped praises on Justice Mami whom he said was an excellent orator and endorsed all the nominees for approval by Parliament.
Concluding the debate, Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma thanked his colleagues for scrutinizing the Judges in light of legality and constitutionality. He described the nominees as qualified and familiar with the court room, and added that they are charged with the responsibility of interpreting the law and to punish law breakers. He agreed that the budgetary allocation to the Judiciary should be increased to take care of Judges and to provide for an improved technology to attain an e-court in the country. He spoke on the need for security of Judges and Magistrates given the nature of their job. He lauded the efforts of the Judicial Service Commission and called for judgements to be accepted in good faith.
Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu , Speaker of Parliament sent words of felicitations to the approved judges. He said the unanimous verdict of Parliament to approve them was a testament that the judges are eminently qualified for the positions and wished them good luck in their new assignments.