Journalists’ gale at Supreme Court in eager anticipation to listen to the ongoing petition of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) against the Attorney General and the Minister of Information, but their hopes were dashed as the case was adjourned sine dine.
Prior to the adjournment lawyer Yada Williams, representing SLAJ, questioned state counsel Osman Kanu’s legibility in filing a motion on behalf of state counsel as solicitor in the case.
Arguing at the Supreme Court, which was presided by three Justices- Virginia A D Wright, S. Bash-Taqi and Sernega Janneh- lawyer Yada made a preliminary objection averring that his learned colleague Osman Kanu “do not have the capacity or locus [standi] to file a paper on behalf of the defendant applicant.”
Citing his authority for the objection, lawyer Yada said, “Order 59 (1) of the High Court rules 2007,” called for “filing a notice of change as required by the rules…”
He pointed out that, “the law officer is not above the rule… we are all subject to the rule,” he said.
In his reply, lawyer Lahai M Farmer said, “Order 59 rule 1(1) of the High Court rules does not envisage what he [lawyer Yada] is calling a change in our own office. Instead it envisages where a solicitor is changed from one individual or firm to another individual or firm.”
However, the judges’ rule against SLAJ’s representation preliminary objection, and state counsel appealed for enlargement of time to file their case, “for us to build a good case we need enough time,” lawyer Farmer said.
“I’m not opposed to the defendant being granted leave to file their statement,” lawyer Yada told the bench.
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