ECOWAS Court Penalises Sierra Leone, Orders to Pay $20,000 Fine

The Justice Court of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja, Nigeria has found Sierra Leone culpable of rights violation and ordered the country to pay 20 thousand US Dollars.

The penalty was levied after Sierra Leone was found wanting for rights violation of UNISEL, a local company who the court ruled that they were prevented from using their land and property situated at Wilberforce in Freetown.

UNISEL said the Sierra Leonean Government prevented them from using their 4.99-acre land and building they purchased legally in 2013.

The company said they paid the sum of Le 219,500,000 (Old Leones) and 250 thousand US Dollars for the building to the Government but later found out that there was a glitch in the acreage.

They said all effort to solve the issue through the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning fell on deaf ears thereby disadvantaging them from using the said property.

UNISEL said the Sierra Leonean Government violated their rights according to Article 14 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The three-judge panel presided over by Justice Dope Atoki of Nigeria, Justice Sengu Koroma of Sierra Leone and Justice Ricardo Claudio Goncalves of Cape Verde ruled in favour of UNISEL with Sierra Leone being unrepresented despite service being issued to them.

Comment(s)

Disclaimer: Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Sierraloaded or any employee thereof.

Godwin Kaikai | 2023-07-14 16:48:03

This is just one of the thousand examples set by the Bio and SLPP administration to bully, intimidate, kill and deprive innocent citizens, companies etc of their rights and liberties. Even foreign nations are no exempt as seen recently by the Bio Govt's unlawful arrest and harassment of a British citizen over a land she rightfully and genuinely acquired. They have unlawfully distributed Government lands to themselves and as bribes/payments to their supporters. These supporters are being paid to 'clean' up the image (on social media) of the undemocratic Bio regime who shamelessly continue to portray their dishonesty, tribalism, thievery etc to the World. Rigging a whole election in broad daylight!!! Looting state money to finance their lavish lifestyles, as well as a manipulative and deceptive first lady Fatima Bio who 'steals out of the mouths of babes!!! Using charities, funding and donations given to her for deprived and underprivileged victims (children and women) to fund her lavish lifestyle. What a sorry state of affairs our beloved Sierra Leone is in!!! Until thry are removed from power Sierra Leone will continue to be in a big mess.
Jalloh Mohamed Alie | 2023-07-13 11:23:22

Wicked lies but God will surely punish you عقلية
Amara Conteh | 2023-07-13 11:06:00

This is very disheartening to our beloved country what a shame and decrease in the economy of our nation☺️☺️☺️
Mohamed Kamara | 2023-07-13 10:55:30

Those are all the grave crimes and mess the APC government of the wicked Ernest Koroma plunged this country into. They have received the money and embezzled and now the SLPP is paying the price. Wickedness is the game only APC knows.