By Fatima Kpaka
Dr. Phillip John Kanu, Vice Chancellor (VC) and Principal of Milton Margai Technical University, has on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, testified before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2 that lecturer Tejan Sheik Rogers had subjected him to Cyber Bullying.
The accused Tejan Sheik Rogers was arraigned on a count of cyber stalking Contrary to Section 44 (2) (b) of the Cyber Security and Crime Act 2001.
According to the charge sheet, the accused Tejan Sheik Rogers on a date unknown between the 1st and 31st of November 2022 in Freetown, through social media did use his WhatsApp number with title Tejan Rogers of MMTU created and posted recorded audios and text messages which created the effect on stalking and bullying on his person by means of computer system network in a WhatsApp group called Maada Must Stay Campaign that may likely damaged his character.
The VC Phillip John Kanu led in evidence by CSP Juan Bull, said that as the principal, he oversees the activities of Milton Margai Technical University and provides leadership.
He recognized the accused as a former staff and further recalled the period between 1st to 30th November 2022.
According to him, on the aforementioned dates, there was an allegation of sexual harassment by certain lecturers whose services he said were later terminated by the University.
He said that immediately after their termination, he started seeing some write-ups and audios on a social media group called Maada Must Stay campaign of which he is a member.
The write-ups and audios he said were all over the social media attacking his personality and that of other authorities in the said university.
He added that the said audios which were sent by the accused were intended to damage his image and that of the University, and continued that the allegation was that himself and the exams officers had been falsifying grades and collecting monies from lecturers for computer classes.
According to him, he made efforts to reach out to the accused through his brother Amara Rogers as a way of stopping him from making such allegations but to no avail.
The witness said the accused later sent message to him that he would not stop even if he involved his brother which he said prompted him to report the matter to the police.
He also informed the court that he had copies of all the messages and audios.
At this juncture, the prosecutor CSP Bull requested for and adjournment to bring the said audios to court.
The accused was put on bail.
The matter was adjourned to the 6th of February 2024 for further hearing.