By: Mohamed Jalloh
The Judiciary of Sierra Leone has decried the attempt by the APC to interfere with the independence of the judiciary in a press release. It says the APC wants to dictate to the Judiciary and politicize its operations thereby undermining democracy in the country.
The judiciary affirms that there are no political cases for trial or judgment emanating from the 2018 multitier general elections. It says the elections that were keenly contested between the APC and the SLPP saw the high court adjudicating on 31 cases filed in by 3 political parties.
It further affirms that there were inconsistencies in filing the matter by Dr Samura Kamara and Dr Sylvia Blyden which was during the tenure of the then Chief justice Abdulai Charm but as soon as Justice Babatunde Edwards was appointed as Chief Justice the matter was reopened and was brought to a conclusion within 3 weeks of filing the matter.
Other vexatious claims are those APC referred to as “high profile cases” that were not assigned, which were simply abandoned by the APC.
Another bogus claim stated by the judiciary is the matter filed for the disaggregation of voter registration figures which was yet to mature and the chief justice has since assigned the matter that is soon to be heard by a presiding judge.
Another matter claimed by the APC of not been heard is that bordering on the legitimacy of Mohamed Konneh as Chief electoral commissioner .According to the judiciary the matter has since been assigned and will come up on 6th July 2023.The matter involving kemoh Sesay was also heard and determined by the high court on 11 September 2022 contrary to claims by the Apc that it was not heard. The Judiciary cited other cases such as the one brought by one Paul kamara and Hon Coleson Turay challenging the candidacy of Samura Kamara but was ruled in favour of the APC but they never commended the Judiciary. The same attitude persist when as a result of court action the APC was able to conduct its national convention paving the way for internal democracy to prevail in the party.Therefore, the hon.Chief Justice reaffirms his unwavering commitment to ensure justice to every party or individual involved in the electioneering process with bias or prejudice.