By: Audrey Raymonda John
The accused Councilor Sheku Alhassan Gibrill Turay aka Ice T. Chair Man development and planning committee FCC has being sent to male correctional center in Freetown by Magistrate Mark Ngegba of the Pademba Road Court No.1 for one count offence of incitement contrary to law.
According to the particulars of offence, unknown date between 1st January, 2021 and 31st December, 2021, at New City Hall Administrative building, Wallace Johnson Street, Freetown, the accused did make inciting statement with intent to undermine the peace.
Led in evidence by Lead Defense Counsel by Melron C Nicol Wilson, Sheku Alhassan Gibrill Turay alias Ice T, former Councilor of Ward 408 in Constituency 116 recalled attending a press conference in 2021 for a budget hearing and some of the burden issues facing the Freetown City Council (FCC).
He said the press conference was held at the 5th floor at the New Freetown City Hall, adding that he raised several grievances against the Chief Administrator (CA) and the general Council in the FCC and as a result of that he had written several letters to the Minister of Local Government, Tamba Lamina.
Councilor Ice T said on the 17th September, 2022, he and the former Mayor of FCC, Yvonne Aki Sawyer went to the Lungi International Airport supposing to attend Bill gate foundation conference in New York United States of America.
He said he was about to onboard in the flight when he was called at the Immigration Department which he did, upon arriving there he saw a team of Police officer who ordered him to go to the Police Division, adding that he was forcefully taken to the Police Division and they even took his money and phone from him.
According to Ice T, when he asked the Police officers, they refused to state reasons for the invitation, adding that after spending the night at the Lungi Police Division, he was then transferred to the Criminal Investigation headquarters where statement was obtained from him for an allegation of incitement.
Under cross examination by State Prosecutor AGM Bockarie, the witness said that the Chief Administrator was not present at the press conference, claiming that the CA has on several times refused to sign some of the projects under the Freetown municipality.
He confirmed that he has an elected authority he has the power to galvanized 1000 man power in of Freetown, but he however denied that he did not say that he would cause unrest and use the radical approach.
When he was confronted with his statement, Councilor Ice T denied by saying that the statement was not properly written, the video was played in court which indicates the incitement statement.
Meanwhile due to the evidence Magistrate Mark Ngegba refused bail and sent the accused person to the male correctional center in Freetown.
The matter comes up today Wednesday 26th April, 2023.