Dozens of persons of interest have filed petitions at the Court of Appeal challenging the outcomes of Commissions of Inquiry which were set up by President Julius Maada Bio to look into governance processes and assets of public officials during the Ernest Bai Koroma administration, a senior government official said on Monday.
The Principal Legal Consultant, Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Barrister Lahai Momoh Farmah disclosed that they had received 58 appeals from indicted persons and they are working on preparing responses to all of them.
Barrister Farmah told news conference at the Ministry of Information and Communications in Freetown that, they are working round the clock to ensure that those that have legitimate and genuine appeals get justice whiles those that owe the government pay.
He warned all those indicted by the White Paper to repay all what they stole from the government against December 24, 2020, or face the full force of the law.
The Principal Legal Consultant explained that December 24 will be exactly three months since the government White Paper was launched by President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, meaning that the grace period of 90 days, ends on that day.
He maintained that they will go into full enforcement of the recommendations immediately after the expiration of the grace period, and that those who have not entered into plea bargain or have not started paying back will be chased and forced to comply with the recommendations.
He used the press briefing to expound on the steps taken so far by the Ministry of Justice to ensure implementation of the recommendations of the White Paper, saying that there are three stages involved and two are already underway.
Mr. Farmah revealed that they have received substantial amount of people and institutions that have already opted to pay back what they stole and they have started paying at a special account set up for that purpose by the Accountant General’s Office.
He commended the Ministry of Information and Communications for popularising the White Paper nationally and for engaging stakeholders regionally on its findings and recommendations.
The Minister of Information and Communications, Honorable Mohamed Rahman Swaray reiterated that the White Paper recommendations will be implemented to the fullest, , adding that anybody who dares to stand before its implementation will face the full force of the law.
By Sallieu S. Kanu
10/11/2020. ISSUE NO: 7948