1 Comment 
The Court of Appeal has commenced hearings into a high-profile paternity case involving two children, represented by their mother, Ingrind Egeis. The matter is seeking to establish the biological connection between the children and a deceased man, raising important questions about the legal and scientific basis for DNA testing in the absence of direct samples from the deceased.
The deceased, identified as Adam Daklalah is being represented in court by popular businessman, Hassan Salman. A report by New Age Newspaper has identified the two children as Raphael Ibrahim Daklalah and Jamal Ibrahim Daklalah.
The appeal challenges a ruling previously delivered by Sierra Leone’s current Chief Justice, Komba Kamanda, then serving as a High Court Judge. In his decision, Justice Kamanda ordered that DNA samples be obtained from the deceased man’s siblings to determine the paternity of the children.
However, the case is now at the Court of Appeal, where serious concerns have been raised over the legitimacy of using the siblings’ DNA without first confirming their biological relationship to the deceased, Adam Daklalah.
Appearing for the appellant, Lawyer E.A. Tarawallie urged the court to rely on established scientific and legal principles rather than probabilities. He stressed that without any primary DNA samples from the deceased, the proposed DNA analysis must be backed by clear and convincing proof of biological connection.
On the other side, Lawyer T. Kamara, representing the respondent, maintained that the DNA test remains the most viable and reliable method to uncover the “nearest or purest truth” about the children’s paternity.
Observers have described the case as one of national importance, particularly for women and children’s rights in Sierra Leone.
Journalist, Thomas Dixon said that one observer noted, “This is a case that must get the attention of women and children in this country.”
The matter continues before the Appeals Court.
Our setting currently cannot adopt this approach as part of our culture,establishing any such investigation would certainly negatively affect the impact of this investigation on the norms of our society.
Before any such move, social welfare and gender ministry must be equipped enough to stand up to the test of times, otherwise, there’s going to be controversy in everything we call family.