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Today marks the commencement of the full trial of twenty-seven serving military officers by a Court Martial presided over by Senior Magistrate Marke Ngegba and a panel of seven others.
These officers face a staggering eighty-eight charges, including mutiny to overthrow the government, aiding the enemy, theft of public property, and even murder, among other accusations, all stemming from their alleged roles in the failed coup attempt on November 26th, 2023.
Preceding today’s trial, a pre-trial hearing session took place on Monday. During this session in Freetown, the 88 charges were not read out to the accused due to the absence of one individual. No pleas were taken at this stage from any of the accused persons.
The Prosecution, headed by Director of Public Prosecution Osman I. Kanu, is set to present 52 witnesses in the case, supported by a team of state counsels from the Law Officers Department. The accused officers are represented by a cadre of defense attorneys, including Lawyers Ade Macaulay Esq., Melron Nicol Wilson, Julian Cole, and support from the Legal Aid Board for those without representation.
However, during the pre-trial session, objections were raised by various defense lawyers. Julian Cole, representing the 17th accused, cited Section 89 of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Sierra Leone Act 1961, seeking the opportunity for the accused to object to any court member before taking an oath. The defense emphasized the importance of due process in ensuring the proceedings’ integrity.
Another defense lawyer, 1. Bangura, representing the 9th accused and others, informed the court of the 9th accused’s medical condition of epilepsy. However, the State, represented by Lawyer Joseph A. K. Sesay, objected to this, urging the court to disregard the application.
In response, Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba dismissed the objection, citing the absence of medical evidence regarding the 9th accused’s condition.
Moreover, Judge Advocate Marke Ngegba issued a stern warning during the session, cautioning the press, social media bloggers, and lawyers to respect the sanctity of the court proceedings, emphasizing strict adherence to laws governing court conduct. He asserted readiness to take action against anyone violating these protocols.
