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Magistrate Braima Jah presiding over Kenema Magistrate Court No. 2 on Tuesday, 16th July 2024, issued a bench warrant for Councilor Jusu Michael Kapu of the Kenema City Council after he failed to appear in court.
The warrant follows a private criminal summons filed by Mayor Thomas Karim Baio against Councilor Kapu, who stands accused of multiple charges including insult, provocation, abusive language, and the use of threatening language.
Mayor Baio appeared in court as the complainant, but Councilor Kapu, listed as the defendant, was notably absent.
The charges stem from an incident on July 8th 2024, where Councilor Kapu allegedly directed insulting language towards the Mayor, potentially provoking a breach of the peace.
The magistrate adjourned the case to Monday, July 23, 2024, following the issuance of the bench warrant.
Tensions between the Mayor and Councilor Kapu had escalated prior to the court proceedings, with both sides using local media to exchange remarks regarding personnel transfers to other councils. This public spat has drawn criticism from residents, who view the conflict as detrimental to city development and disrespectful towards the Mayor.
