March 6, 2018
Justice V.M. Solomon: Recused
Two judges of the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone have ‘voluntarily recused’ themselves from taking any further part in the hearing and determination of a petition brought by one David Fornah against the candidacy of Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, presidential candidate for the National Grand Coalition.
One of the lawyers in the defence team, Sulaiman Banja Tejan-Sie, last Friday informed the panel of five judges of his intention to request that two judges recuse themselves from the matter. However, he did not state any reason or disclose the names of the two justices.
Upon return to open court after almost twenty minutes of deliberations in chambers, Presiding Justice, Hon. Nicholas Brown-Marke, ordered Mr. Tejan-Sie to put his request in writing and file in the registry before 9:30 a.m. on Monday, 5th March.
Our sources say a motion was filed on Monday morning and that the defence counsel moved his motion behind closed doors.
Our sources further revealed that the two judges opted to ‘voluntarily recused themselves from the matter’ thus saving the court a long drawn out recusal trial.
“Justices Vivian M. Solomon and Nyawo Matturi-Jones decided to voluntarily recuse themselves after Mr. Tejan-Sie raised an objection to their participation in the hearing,” a source disclosed.
Meanwhile, an impeccable source within the judiciary told us last night that two Appellate Court Justices – Hon. Alusine Sesay and Hon. Mohamed Sengu Koroma – will now join Justices Nicholas Brown-Marke, Eku Roberts and Glenna Thompson to hear and determine the matter, which comes up again today (6th March).