A group of landowners from Charlotte Village has initiated legal proceedings against Hon. Rev. Adama Conteh, a female Member of Parliament representing the All People’s Congress (APC) party, accusing her of unlawful land acquisition in their community.
Africa 24 Newspaper reports that the complaint, filed in a Sierra Leonean court, also implicates William Leigh and officials from the Ministry of Lands in what the landowners describe as a systematic takeover of their ancestral lands.”
The Charlotte community, represented by spokesperson Rachael English, has expressed deep frustration and anger over what they claim is the illegal sale and occupation of hundreds of acres of their land.
According to English, the disputed land includes areas designated for essential community infrastructure, such as schools and markets, which have been sold without the consent of the rightful owners. “We are being treated like strangers on our own land,” English lamented.
“These individuals, who are not even natives of Charlotte, have gone as far as hiring thugs to intimidate and victimize us.”Despite numerous complaints and efforts to protect their property, English stated that the land seizures have continued unabated.
She accused Hon. Adama Conteh of regularly deploying machinery onto their land to demolish structures without any prior consultation with the landowning families.
“Her actions are a recipe for chaos,” English warned, calling on President Julius Maada Bio to intervene urgently.Denis Valcarcel, another resident of Charlotte, echoed these concerns, describing the current situation in the village as one of constant fear and intimidation.
“Our community has turned into a battleground, where anyone who seizes land uses military personnel to secure their claim,” Valcarcel said. He emphasized that the landowners are determined to pursue justice, despite the daily threats they receive.
Valcarcel also accused the land grabbers of seeking to take control of Charlotte Village and reshape it according to their interests. The community, he revealed, is now actively pursuing legal recourse to address the pain and suffering caused by these influential figures.
In response to the allegations, Hon. Adama Conteh has denied any involvement in illegal land activities. In a statement made to the press a few months ago, she clarified that her role was limited to assisting the Ministry of Lands in the construction of roads on the plotted lands.
“I am not a native of Charlotte Village,” she said. “Why would I involve myself in land grabbing? These are false and baseless accusations.”
Conteh also indicated her intention to take legal action against those attempting to tarnish her reputation. “Charlotte is just one of many communities where I have worked. Some people reward me with land, while others pay me for my services,” she explained.
As the legal battle unfolds, the Charlotte landowners are hopeful that the courts will deliver justice in their favor, allowing them to reclaim their lands and restore peace in their community.
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