March 5, 2021
By: Audrey. R. John
Former Deputy Secretary Immigration Office, Anthony Aruna and his wife Rugiatu Aruna together with a Nigerian businessman Charles Onyeka Obishili appeared before Justice Tonia Barnett of High Court No.4 Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown on the 3rd March, 2021.
Both applicants Anthony Aruna and Rugiatu Aruna went to Court stating that the Respondent Charles Onyeka Obishili occupied a government quarter at 26 Regent Road Hill Station in Freetown.
Applicant Anthony Aruna claimed that the quarter was offered to him by the government of Sierra Leone in 2007 when he was serving as Civil Servant in the capacity of Deputy Secretary Immigration, but the quarter was engulfed by fire in the same year and sought permission from the Ministry of Works through a letter to construct a temporary structure, which was certified by the Ministry.
He went on to say that the Respondent Charles Onyeka Obishili came to him and said he wanted to construct a shop in the premises, which tenancy agreement has elapsed. This testimony was however objected by the Respondent lawyer and the agreement was submitted in court.
The first and second Applicants claimed that the property in question was offered to them by the government of Sierra Leone and they have documents for the property.
Responding to both Applicants, lawyer representing the Respondent I.F Sawaneh Esq. raised an objection to the Court on the grounds that both Respondents especially the 1st Respondent Anthony Aruna is laying claim to government property which he does not have property documents to show for. The lawyer added that the property in question is not situated at 26 Regent Road, Hill Station but H.S 19 situated at Hill Station and it is the property of the government of Sierra Leone.
Lawyer Sawaneh further stated that, his client is not claiming the property as his, but the government offered his client (Charles Onyeka Obishili) the property in 2017-18 and his client has spent over fifty million Leones on the land by constructing shop and temporal dwelling house with all relevant documents from Works Ministry, National Assets and Government’s Property Commission.
Lawyer for the applicants was not in Court.
Justice Tonia Barnett adjourned the matter to the 16 March 2021 for both lawyers representing both parties to come and argue their case.