The Director of Communications of the Judiciary of Sierra Leone, Elkass Sannoh has reportedly denied reports that Ambassadors and High Commissioners of Foreign Missions have met today with the Chief Justice, Hon. Desmond Babatunde Edwards to ask him to allow the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC) to go ahead with their National Delegates Conference scheduled for 17 to 19 February 2023.
Sannoh further reportedly clarified that the said injunction is still in force.
The Judiciary of Sierra Leone also stated on their twitter handle that the Chief Justice has not been approached by no external body or international community, whether British High Commissioner, EU or any other international partner seeking interference into the work of the Judiciary, adding that the information is false and malicious.
Hon. Chief Justice D.B Edwards has not been approached by no external body or international community, whether British High Commissioner, EU or any other international partner seeking interference into the work of the Judiciary.
The information is false and malicious. pic.twitter.com/dzhHPnAvwhRelated News — Judiciary of Sierra Leone (@JudiciaryofSL) February 16, 2023
This is in response to a social media post allegedly authored by former Minister Plenipotentiary at the Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to the United Nations, Amb Wilfred Leeroy Cabs- kanu, stating that, “The British High Commissioner and other international partners are currently engaging the Minister of Justice, Chief Justice, and their judges to allow the APC convention to hold as planned.”
On Wednesday, the High court Judge of Sierra Leone, Justice H. Bonnie placed an interim Injunction restraining the party from holding the convention pending the hearing and determination of an application filed by a party member.
Alfred Peter Conteh, The Interim Transition Governance Committee (ITGC) Chairman of the APC on Thursday announced that the party’s national delegates conference will no longer hold, adding that the ITGC will communicate the new dates for the National Delegates Conference after the 23rd of February 2023.