Police sources from the national headquarters of the Sierra Leone Police Force on George Street, Freetown, have informed this medium that the suspended former Director of Professional Standards, Assistant Inspector General of Polic (AIG) Mohamed Brima-Jah, on Wednesday 8th September, 2021 refused to show up at the police tribunal set up to look into an allegation of insubordination and professional misconduct brought against him by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Madam Elizabeth A Turay.
According to the sources, police policy requires that the Complaints, Discipline and Internal Investigations Department (CDIID) should look into complaints brought against police personnel for remedy and or action to forestall future reoccurrence.
The sources continued that AIG Brima-Jah, following his suspension, refused to honor the invitation or subject himself to investigation by the CDIID; thus, resulting in a special disciplinary tribunal headed by the Director of Operations, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Amadu Mannah, been set up to investigate the matter against him.
The sources maintained that AIG Brima-Jah who was to appear before the tribunal on Wednesday, the 8th of September, 2021, did not show up and refused to answer phone calls from headquarters.
The committee, the sources added, has therefore compiled its finding and would present it to the Executive Management Board (EMB) for action and onward forwarding to the Police Council.
When The Exclusive called yesterday morning to verify the news with him, AIG Brima-Jah speaking succinctly gave the reasons why he did not subject himself to Wednesday’s inquiry.
According to him, quoting Article 157 and the relevant Sub-section of the 1991 Constitution which holds that disciplinary action against any member of the police force above the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) is the sole responsibility of the Police Council, adding that his right was being violated by the police hierarchy. He disclosed that he wrote a letter on August 27th, 2021 drawing its attention to this constitutional provision.
What AIG Brima-Jah said he therefore wants is to be subjected to investigation by an impartial committee.
Furthermore, AIG Brima-Jah maintained that Article 171 of the 1991 Constitution, again he quoted the relevant sub-section pertaining to the investigation against him, clearly states that any law which is in contradiction with the provisions of the constitution should be set aside. The Police Council byelaw, he said, is inconsistent with this constitutional provision.
Thus, a defiant AIG Brima-Jah said that was the reason why he did not attend Wednesday’s hearing and will be going public soon.
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