By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
Hon. Justice Adrian Fisher has suspended the 30 days Sentence and fined the Chairman of the APC Interim Transitional Governance Committee (ITGC) Alfred Peter Conteh Le 50 Million after he was found guilty of Contempt of Court.
He said the suspension of the sentence and fine will come into effect if Alfred Peter Conteh fails to file an affidavit.
It cloud be recalled that members of the IGTC filed an affidavit sworn by Alpah M Jalloh to court that the Chairman of the said committee has bridge the court orders given to them by the court in which they ought to have followed.
The judge said his judgement the Plaintiff Alfred Peter Conteh went wrong over certain things in his order, and that Alfred Peter Conteh failed to have return to the court to report that certain members in the committee are not working and that Conteh ought not to have taken the laws into his own hands.
He said a press statement dated on the 10 of June of the plantiff Alfred Peter Conteh suspending all standing committee duly constituted by the IGTC.
He said all the members of the said committee were legitimate and if 20 people took a decision in the absence of one person, if any decision taken its legal.
He said the action of the plaintiff Conteh have seriously undermined the IGTC efforts to carry out work according his judgment.
In his ruling he said the IGTC shall not be disbanded and they will continue to man the affairs of the APC and he orders that any member of the IGTC who feels that they are able to serve in the said committee should reign by writing to secretary of the committee within the next 24 hours of this ruling on Thursday 24th November 2022.
When a member resigns from the committee the party that nominated that member should provide a replacement within 24 hours of the resignation on 25th Friday 2022.
Any member, who fails to resigns on their appointment of the committee, shall be construed as wishing to continue with the committee and by extension they are severing an agreement that they will agree to the court orders, the APC constitution and any other laws.
Where a member continue to serve and bridge the order of the court that member will be held for contempt of court, and affirms that any bridge of his order that person will punished by imprisonment alone.
He said the Conteh is found guilty of contempt of the orders of the court, and the decisions taken by Conteh without a simple majority vote press statement are quash, he said with respect to appointment to the TRIIC that the chairman of the Transitional Intermit Independent Elections Committee shall submit a list of seven names to the IGTC for ratification. The committee shall submit names to the secretary of the committee with good standing.
The lead of the third defendant APC in parliament shall submit a list of seven person, and not necessarily members of parliament and shall have a good standing not less than five years.
The disposal region, the young generation, and women’s congress shall give one member each with a good standing at least five and shall be member of APC. The IGTC shall hold a meeting to ratify the appoint TRIIC appointment and a vote is not required. The Interim chairman Conteh, should send a letter to PPRC of the ratification.
The Chairman of the TRIIC and all other appointees shall ensure the conduct of the lower elections within 45 days commenting on Monday 15 of December 2022 and all elections shall be completed under the supervision of the PPRC no later on the 19 of January 2023.
The IGTC shall make available all APC part resource to the TRIIC and all party structure to enable them to meet their mandate. The IGTC shall ensure the conduct of the mandate of the national delegate conference under the supervision of PPRC no later on the 29th of January 2023 to elect a new executive and a flag barrier.
And all previous not vary by this order remains in force. Decision by the IGTC much be a simple majority. The chairman shall summon all members meeting by whatever means necessary at least 24 hours and they shall vote.
He said he accepted the serious of the bridge of the contempt of the orders this court, and that the conduct of the Conteh the plaintiff is reserving some punishment particular the court order and the plaintiff shall pay a fine fifty million leones with an alternative of thirty days imprisonment which shall be suspended for seven that he fills an affidavit to the court undertaking to comply with all order feature of this court with no later 4pm 30th of November 2022.
After the judgement, members of the All people’s Congress started chanting their victory song, holding hands and taking photos to show their solidarity and acceptance to the judgement.