That Ademousu judgment on Alieu Sesay

In the late 1960s the names Sam Short and Sam Metzger were some of the most familiar in Sierra Leone journalism. They had different styles of writing and were occasionally at each other’s throat but in a subtle manner. (Photo: Dr Sama Banya)

Sam Short also had a weekly radio programme on SLBS titled “AS I SEE IT” which was his commentary on current events. Sam passed away a couple of years ago but I am using this headline in his memory.

Much has been written about Justice Ademousu’s recent judgment in the criminal case against Alieu Sesey former Commissioner-General in the NRA. One wonders whether much of it was not out of emotion. Much of it may likely also be due to the usual public bias to undress public figures, especially those perceived to be corrupt and living on the fat of the suffering ordinary people. That the poor fellow had replaced a popular SLPP government holder of that post has not won him much sympathy.

I was particularly dismayed at comments attributed to Mr. Joseph Kamara the Anti Corruption Commission Chairman who has been quoted as throwing doubt on the integrity of the Ademousu Judgment. Although he confessed not to have read the judgment itself, he was baffled that an accused person could be cleared ON ALL 53 COUNTS in a criminal case, particularly one that had to do with the charge of corruption.  He was already speaking of an appeal when he would have read the judgment.

It must be remembered that some recent judgments or decisions of the learned ACC Commissioner himself have raised eyebrows. I enquired of a legal luminary why the Alieu Sesey judgment had not been released to the public. His answer was that it was not for a judge or even magistrate to distribute his/her judgment; that once delivered it was there for any interested party to obtain a copy at the Registry. Now how many of those making unfavourable comments have bothered to lay hands on the judgment or are aware of the simple procedure? On the contrary, they have assumed and wrongly as usual, that the learned trial judge was holding on to it because it contained obvious and embarrassing flaws.

As a layman I am also amazed that the ACC guru could express amazement that the accused was freed on everyone of the 53 counts, to which I would ask, “Really Mr. Kamara?” It is the practice in criminal cases that when a man is charged with say, the offence of embezzlement he may end up with more than fifty counts. In that case if he is found guilty on any one of the counts he could be convicted. Conversely, if the prosecution has a weak case on the principal count, it is likely that the rest of the counts and the case itself would crumble like a park of cards. Would it not be a procedure of wisdom then, for the skeptics and the doubters of the learned trial judge’s integrity to begin at the beginning, that is to get hold of the judgment before crucifying him or the judiciary as some have now done?

One tabloid is wondering whether the British would pour any more funds into the NRA; that may be but the Brits are aware that it is for the prosecution not to leave any doubts and not for the defense to establish their innocence. Let me make it clear that I do not know Alieu Kamara nor do I care two hoots about him as I see him as yet another example of the APC’s regionalization of public appointments since they came to power. Has anyone cared to find out how many appointments under the Diasporas employment policy come from regions other than the north?  After all a prostitute is entitled to protection from rape.

Justice Samuel Ademousu is one of the longest serving personalities on the Bench. He joined the judiciary as a magistrate in 1971 or 72 and must have been one of the longest serving magistrates before his elevation as a High court judge and then finally a Justice of Appeal. I am not sure that I have heard his name being linked for any impropriety; surely he is entitled to some credit especially for the judiciary bashing sections of the press. Incidentally has there been any development on the allegations of FIFA against the minister of youth employment and sports?

A correspondent of the Exclusive newspaper was recently allegedly stabbed to death and the journalists’ association SLAJ has taken up the issue with understandable frenzy. They have as it were endorsed the postmortem report of the government pathologist on the cause of death. The same pathologist gave his findings on the postmortem examination of another journalist Yansaneh and the organization have challenged it although those findings are consistent with the opinion of the deceased’s attending physician, a consultant of no mean repute, by no coincidence the name of the pathologist is Dr. Orwitz Koroma. Whoever coined the expression “Tails I win, heads you lose,” knew his ABC. Olu Gordon would have laughed ha ha!

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