Judiciary of Sierra Leone Communications, Main Law Courts Building, Freetown, 28th August 2024: The Acting Chief Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Lordship Hon. Justice Nicholas C. Browne-Marke, has officially opened the newly constructed magistrate and high court buildings in the country’s second city, Bo in the Southern Region.
In his keynote address, the Acting Chief Justice said that he was pleased not only to witness what he described as a histrionic event but also to officially open the newly constructed court buildings himself. He said before the construction of both courts, the judges and magistrates were holding court sittings in an atmosphere that was never conducive, as the court buildings were in bad shape with no air conditioners or electricity supply.
“Despite the aforesaid challenges, Hon. Justice Abubakarr Sannoh, a man whom I have never met until the time he was appointed judge, kept working assiduously covering two of the biggest judicial districts, Bo and Kenema, without complaining,” he said.
He said the newly constructed court buildings have key facilities that will enhance effective justice delivery, such as spacious chambers for the judge and the same for the magistrates, offices with needed facilities for senior support staff, and also three decent holding centers for both male and female inmates.
Speaking on behalf of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the State Counsel for the Southern Region, Augustine Sheku, said for effective justice delivery to be achievable, the enabling environment has to be created first, adding that the event indicates that the Judiciary is more than ready for justice to be effectively and expeditiously delivered.
“This opening of the courts today will ensure regular court sittings and will help to address overcrowding in the male correctional center,” he said.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Brima Kenneh, said the judiciary of Sierra Leone is not the only beneficiary of these modern structures. He said the Inspector General of Police was impressed with the spate of developments within the judiciary. He maintained that the condition under which the Magistrate’s and Judge were working was never conducive, which rendered expeditious trials for those charged to court very difficult to achieve. He added that the situation under which they were working had a spillover effect on effective policing.
Representing the Ministry of Works and Public Assets, the Chief Engineer said for the justice sector to function effectively, the infrastructure had to be put in place. He said it is on this hallmark that the judiciary is partnering with the Ministry of Works and Public Assets to ensure that the same facilities are put up in other judicial districts as it was done in Kailahun.
The event was climaxed with the cutting of the ribbons for both courts, witnessed by the Hon. Resident Minister, South Hon. Mohamed E.K. Alie, the Paramount Chief Prince Lapia Boima IV of Kakua Chiefdom, and other dignitaries.
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