By Fatima Kpaka
Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road court No 2 has on Tuesday 9th January 2024 in the ongoing preliminary investigation into the Treason Trial against Amadu Koita Makolo and 11 Others made an order for former APC Youth Minister Bai Mamoud Bangura to the brought to court on the next adjourned date.
He made this order shortly after the matter had been mentioned and the lead defense Counsel lawyer Africanus Sorie Sesay informed the court that the accused was unwell and therefore could not come to court. There was also a medical certificate to that effect.
Prior to this order, lawyer Africanus Sorie Sesay informed the court that his client Bai Mamoud Bangura was unwell and therefore could not come to court, he also provided a medical report to the prosecution team to ascertain his claims.
The lead state prosecutor Lawyer Ahmed G. M. Bockarie in reply questioned the authenticity of the medical report, adding that since it was coming from the police he wanted to see its author.
Bockarie added that what the defense had brought before the court was merely an information, and in the circumstance, he requested for an adjournment.
The Defense Counsel made another application to be allowed to confer with their clients still detained at the Pademba Road prison in order to prepare for their defense.
Before adjourning the matter, Magistrate Bangura ordered for Bai Mamoud Bangura to be brought to court on the next adjourned date so that the court would determine whether he is fit for trial.
He also ordered for the prisons authority to give the defense counsels access to their clients for them to prepare for their case and noted that they hold no malice against the accused persons.
The matter was however adjourned toThursday 11th January 2024 for further hearing.
It could be recalled that the Twelve (12) accused person’s including Amadu Koita Makolo Mohamed Jalloh, Sergeant 10020 Emmanuel Salifu Kamara, Ramatu Kamanda Conteh, Alimatu Hassan Bangura, Hassan Leigh, Mohamed woodie, Bai Mamadu Bangura, ASP Ibrahim Sesay, Tamba Yamba, Kabba Kamara and Abdul sorie Hassan Kamara had been arraigned and are standing before the court for treason and other related offences contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The state prosecuting Counsel on the day were the Director of Public Prosecution Osman Kanu, AJM Bockarie, A.Jalloh A.V. Koroma and T.B. Zizer
Whiles the lead defense counsel for all the accused persons were lawyers Musa Pious Sesay, M. M. Kamara, A. F. Sesay, Ade Macauley, Brima Koroma, A Bah, S. A. Conteh, N.K. Kamara and a battery of other lawyers.