By: Audrey Raymonda John
Councilor Sheku Alhassan Gibril Sesay of ward 408 who also doubles as chairman development and urban planning committee at the Freetown city Council has taken the witness stand as the second witness to defend, Mayor Aki Sawyerr on the matter of obstruction of police duty.
Testifying on her defense, councilor Sesay said On 17the September 2022 he went with Yvonne Aki Sawyerr to the airport to travel to the United kingdom on an invitation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation when he heard his name announced through a public announce system in the early hours of the night.
He said he voluntarily went to respond, and upon arrival Chief Superintendent of Police James Foday who was introduced to him as the Local Unit Commander asked that he accompany him to the police station without any reason at that moment.
Councilor Sesay explained that his passport and phones were taken away from him by the local police head. He said he was refused the opportunity by the police upon request to make a call in order to inform the Mayor about his arrest.
Testifying further, he said Woman Police Constable Fanta Fofanah and Sergeant Caulker at that time were in civilian attire at the police station and he developed a cordial relationship with them and was allowed to send a message to the accused Yvonne Aki Sawyerr that he had been invited by the police for questioning.
He said because there was no response, he placed a call using the same phone of Sergeant Caulker and Madam Aki Sawyerr later responded and was told about the arrest and why.
The witness said shortly after, the Mayor arrived at the police station and asked why he (sheku) was arrested, but he responded that he didn’t have knowledge of what actually is going on.
He said Mayor Aki Sawyer further questioned him as to whether he was arrested with a warrant, but he responded in the negative.
Councilor Sesay said it was at that moment the Mayor requested that WPC Fanta take her to the senior most police officer.
The officer he said opted to take her to the LUC and In the process, he said the Mayor asked if there was none to talk to, she would go on Facebook Live and explain to the world what had happened.
He said the Mayor then took out her phone, stood outside the room where he said he was being kept and started the live online broadcast.
He said she narrated what had happened in the video and that the police where doing nothing at a Peaceful and friendly atmosphere.
Cross Examined by state counsel Yusif Isaac Sesay as to whether he ever told the accused reason for him being questioned regarding the August 10 insurrection, the witness said no.
Lead defense counsel Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara applied for a subpoena of Victor Swaray the military officer who has been mentioned repeatedly in the matter to have accompanied the accused from the airport to the police station and the minister of planning and economic development Dr. Francis Kaikai. According to defence counsel, their testimonies are of material substance to the case.
Magistrate Mark Ngegba granted that application and adjourned the matter to Monday 13th February 2023.