The Supreme Court of Sierra Leone has in a unanimous decision ruled that the vehicular movement ban during the 2018 general elections which was imposed by the Inspector General of Police was unconstitutional, unlawful and violates the right of the plaintiff , Lawyer Augustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah.
The decision of the Supreme Court on Thursday April 21m 2022, signifies a big win for good governance and the rule of law against arbitrary actions.
The matter was taken to Supreme Court four years ago against the Inspector General of Police for banning vehicular movement during the last general elections in 2018.
In his personal statement on the decision of the supreme court, Lawyer Sorie-Sengge Marrah said, “This is a small yet grand win for our governance –that citizens could hold state authorities to account by their actions, protests, agitations and do so by way of redress in court.”
“Our eminent benchers of the Supreme Court have shown a promising valiant rise to defining occasions in our governance journey and a re-situating of the court as the arbiter of our democracy. I only hope with deep sincerity that other benchers would fearlessly continue to light this trail.”
He expressed profound thanks to his father-in-the-law, Yada Williams Esq., who fearlessly litigated this matter as an ardent believer of the supremacy of the rule of law. “My deepest appreciation to everyone who has supported me in this journey and to all who believe in my cause lawyering and my little contributions to our governance architecture.”