Justice under the Carpet

By Thaimu Thullah

Sierra Leone Justice System seems to be in coma, despite so many reforms. Delay in handling cases by the judiciary is causing serious headache for the public. Justice is now the most expensive ‘commodity’ in Sierra Leone today, that even our precious minerals (diamond , gold ,etc) are easy to get than justice. When the justice sector of any nation is comatose, that nation or nations are or yet to approach change. Change, we all know, does not come by magic, but by actions and intentions. Sierra Leone is crying today because our values to uphold the truth have disappeared. Disappeared because those who are supposed to act will prefer to turn blind eyes to issues affecting the masses. The country is now hell for the poor and heaven for the rich and influential in society. We have come in contact with aggrieved individuals, whose matters before the court have cost them huge financial expenses, time and energy over the years, but yet no remedy is in the horizon for them.

A case in point has to do with the issue between Jaffer Hussien Zeihgr and LeonOil Company. This matter has taken close to four years, and the court is still playing on it. A recent development was when the High Court Judge, Justice Samuel Taylor, who, in his ruling, ordered for LeonOil to supply the 200,000 litres of fuel paid for by Jaffer three years ago, or deposit an amount of Six Billion Old Leones, its equivalent in the current price, at a special account within 14 days. As if the order was irrelevant, LeonOil never complied, but decided later to challenge the ruling at an Appeal Court, where another decision was taken by a panel of Appeal Court Judges, who, in their ruling, disregarded the ruling of the High Court Judge.

Since the Appeal Court took over the case, the matter has seen incessant adjournments, causing Jaffer to suffer both emotionally and economically at the hands of both the judiciary and LeonOil, prompting allegations that the company has used its influence and connection to prevent Jaffa from getting what is rightfully his. The matter seems to have gone to sleep, as among the three Appeal Court Judges, it has been reported that one among them is bereaved. This has caused frustration on Jaffer, whose business has been crumbling, while that of LeonOil keeps flourishing.

Acting Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Brown-Marke, must stand firm to maintain his track record of fairness and family reputation in ensuring that the matter in question gets his attention for expeditious trial.