With public concern growing over political and gang violence, part of Freetown was taken aback Monday 23rd January, as dozens of fans-of LAJ stormed the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No.2, to witness the first appearance in court of Alhaji Amadu Bah aka LAJ and Mohamed Massaquoi alias Big Fish.
The court was filled with family members, supporters, sympathizers and colleague musicians like Shaddy Baby, C-Bolt among others, and some media representatives that were fortunate to make their way inside the court.
Both accused persons were dressed in white T-shirts and stood quietly as defense lawyers took their turns to declare their representations for either of the accused.
The matter was presided over by Magistrate Herbert Davies Cole, and leading the prosecution was M.B. Kamara known as Legal One.
LAJ stands charged with five count charges ranging from unlawful possession of arms and ammunition on count one, unlawful use of fire arms on count two, carrying of offensive weapon without authority on count three, riotous conduct on count four and use of threatening language on count five.
The particulars of offence state that on Saturday, 14th January this year, along Lumley Beach Road the accused person committed these offences. An additional count five states that on January 4th instant against one Dauda Kamara.
Big Fish was charged together with LAJ with one count which relates to count four- riotous conduct together with LAJ. No plea was taken on all count charges.
Prosecutor, M.B. Kamara asked for adjournment due to electricity failure.
Representing the first accused person (LAJ), lawyer Leon Jenkins-Johnston, applied for bail for the first accused person who has been in custody for a week, noting that the application is in pursuance of Section 79 of the Criminal Procedures Act 1916, and Section 73 (1) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone.
Lawyer C.F. Edward representing the second accused person Big fish, applied for bail for the accused noting that he is an ordinary citizen residing in Freetown and assured that the accused will not jump bail for the offence for which he is facing trial.
Addressing the bench, the leading Police prosecutor M.B. Kamara, Legal one, could not hide his feelings about the solid representation from the accused persons side saying that “I feel threatened by the cue of lawyers representing the accused persons, I should have objected but due to the application made by the defence, I do not mind if they were granted bail.”
With smile and giggle from the defence bench, the Magistrate had nothing to say to the police prosecutor but to wish him well in what is going to be a trial that is worth following up as he grant bail to both accused persons in the sum of Le 25M (Twenty-five million Leones) each and additional Le 5M (Five million Leones) for LAJ on count five which is a separate charge.
Upon that ruling, family member, supporter, sympathizers and colleague musicians that were inside the court were drown with smile as they faced the exit of the court as some were singing one of his recent songs, ‘Freedom’.
The matter comes up on Thursday, 26th January 2012.
By Alhaji Kamara and Nancy Koroma
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