By Mohamed Foday Conteh
The Supreme Court of Sierra Leone has dismissed with costs, a lawsuit challenging the eligibility of the National Grand Coalition (NGC) leader to contest the 2018 general and presidential elections.
In the ruling the court, presided over by Hon. Justice Nicholas Browne-Marke said that Hon. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella (KKY) who represents constituency 062 in Kambia district presented his affidavits to the court that included copies of documents authenticating his renunciation of his US citizenship.
The court also said that at an organised event in January 2018 Hon. Yumkella made his renunciation public and that a transcript of his speech on that subject was made available.
One of the other judges, Hon. Justice Eku Roberts said Hon. Yumkella provided enough renunciation evidence and was therefore eligible to hold a parliamentary or presidential office.
The court heard that the man who brought the action against the NGC leader David Fornah opted to withdraw his application from the court saying he was now certain that Hon. Yumkella did not hold a dual citizenship.
Hon. Justice Glenna Thompson stated that Fornah had wasted the court’s time and described his action as ‘frivolous’ and unhealthy for Sierra Leone’s democracy. She pointed out that an independent judiciary is important in a democracy and warned against using the court as a political weapon.
Hon. Justice Alusine Sesay said also criticized the action by Fornah as an ‘unacceptable conduct that undermines democracy.’ He said Fornah was aware of the status of Hon. Yumkella before 2018.
Hon. Justice Sengu Koroma also highlighted the detrimental nature of Fornah’s action saying that the plaintiff opted to withdraw his lawsuit after all defendants had filed their paperwork. He described Fornah’s interpretation of section 11 of the Citizenship Act of 2006 as ‘academic’.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (06/09/21)
