Sierra Leone News: COI Probes Le1.3bn Payment to Private Lawyers
By Hasbin Shaw
The Justice Biobele Georgewill Commission of Inquiry (COI) will probe into Le1.3 billion payment to private lawyers to represent the State in a matter which involved the sacking of the former Vice President Alhaji Sam Sumana.
The lawyer representing the State at the Commission, Robin Mason Esq. reopened the investigation on Wednesday along with two other matters.
Lawyer Robin-Maison told the Commission that, the State has evidence to show that a legal fee of Le1.3 billion was paid to two practicing counsels to represent the State in respect of the sacking of former vice president.
Lawyer Robin Mason said that the money was allegedly paid to Messrs Berthan Macauley (Jr) and Agibola Emmanuel Manley-Spaine,
He urged that Commission to determine whether is prudent for the State to pay such an amount to private solicitors when the Law Officers’ Department could handle that job.
He also urged the Commission to probe into whether it’s wise or professional for the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Joseph Fitzgerald to boycott the ECOWAS Court hearings in Nigeria on the case between the State versus the former Vice President Chief Alhaji Sam Sumana.
Lawyer Robin-Maison also reopened a probe into the handling of assets of the Special Court by the former government. He said the assets of special court are in ruins. He specifically cited that the main structure of the Special Court which houses the hearing chamber is in very poor physical condition, and that “the state counsel wishes to explore the possibility of establishing fact as to whether or not it was properly managed”.
The Judge Georgewill therefore advised counsel representing the State to provide persons of interest information on the matters which the State holds against them for awareness purposes.
He also advised counsel representing persons of interests, Amadu Koroma Esq. to prepare for the investigation which he will commence on Friday September 12, 2019.
