Delivering judgment in the Lokomasama Chieftaincy Election yesterday Justice Eku Roberts stated that the Court of Appeal upheld the judgment dated 26th April 2010 delivered by Justice Browne Marke at the High Court.
The Judgment was upheld on three grounds and the election dated 5th December 2009 was declared null and void and that another election should be conducted within four months from the date of the judgment delivered.
The Appeal Court Judges comprised of Justices Eku Robert, A. Showers and Vivian Solomon.
J.B. Jenkins -Johnston and Lawyer Leon Jenkins-Johnston represented the 1st respondent Mohamed Bai Marrow Kamara while Lawyer Yada Williams and Lawyer Osman Jalloh represented the petitioner Mohamed Bai Sama Kamara.
Delivering the Judgment Justice Roberts stated that the position of the Appellants is that the High Court Judge was wrong in law and in practice to deliver such judgment, and that the evidence submitted and testimony of the witness substantiated that there were abnormalities and election malpractice but that was not enough to declare the election result null and void.
According to the evidence however supporters of Bai Sama were allegedly held hostage and prevented from voting in the run -off election by Bai Marrow and his supporters.
After the Judgment supporters of Mohamed Bai Sama Kamara were chanting local songs that the Judgment was in their favor, while supporters of Mohamed Bai Marrow were crying.
According to some of the supporters of Bai Sama the justice system is free and fair and they are confident that they will win the forthcoming election. Supporters of Bai Marrow said the Judgment was unfair to their candidate and the credibility of NEC is questionable. A senior supporter of Bai Morrow called Wurie Palaver said they will lodge another appeal to the Supreme Court to test the veracity and legality of the Appeal Court Judgment.
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