The outgoing State Counsel of the largest jurisdiction in the country Aiah Alieu has disclosed that his former office is faced with a lot of challenges ranging from no supporting staff, late payment of circuit allowance and accommodation among others.
This disclosure was made during the handing over ceremony at their Mena Hills office in Makeni.
The outgoing State Counsel Aiah Alieu who has been transferred to Kenema Jurisdiction said his transfer was as a result of the restructuring process at the Law Officers Department which is seen as a way of empowering other judicial districts in pursuit of law and order.
In his hand over statement the State Counsel said since the office was open to date they don’t have any supporting staff, inadequate supply of fuel as he was covering the largest chiefdoms in the country; late payment of circuit allowance to name but a few.
Presently he went on, there are 125 local courts in the country with only five court supervisors per district of which most are aged people. State Counsel Aiah Alieu thanked his colleague lawyers for working with the law officers department as before most of them preferred to open their private law firm rather than working for government.
It could be recalled that in 2007 with support and funds from the Justice Sector project, law officers department opened their registry and decided to have a resident Judge and State Connsel who will also serve as customary law officer in Makeni to serve the Northern jurisdiction.
The outgoing State Counsel thanked the people of Makeni for their warm hospitality and support he enjoyed during his tenure in office. He called on them to give the same support to the incoming State Counsel noting that he was able to succeed because of the amount of professionalism exibited by the police and other stakeholders in the region.
The Assistance Inspector General (AIG) of police North Joseph Kabia thanked the outgoing Counsel for his diligent services in the region. AIG Kabia said “Police all by itself cannot stand alone in the dispensation of law and order.” He went on “We have been sending all our criminal matters to his office for onward advice and actions on them. With his advice we have been able to address major criminal matters in our region,” he said.
AIG Joseph Kabia assured the incoming State Counsel of his total support in addressing criminal and customary matters in the North.
The newly transferred State Counsel Yusuf Sulaiman Koroma thanked his predecessor for adding more values to the law officers department by dispensing justice for people in the North.
Mr. Yusuf Sulaiman Koroma thanked the police for supporting them noting that police cooperation is very instrumental in the pursuit of justice in the country.
Addressing the challenges he said, “I know challenges are huge but with cooperation from stakeholders and police, my work will be easier. I hope to overcome some of the challenges especially in taking very difficult decisions in ensuring that justice prevails.”
The new State Counsel assured his bosses of putting on the best performances in keeping the standards and pointers left by Mr. Aiah Alieu. He also assured of not letting their office dreams down.
By Mohamed Kabba
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