The National Grand Coalition Political Party has on the 18th January raised concern over the bad judicial precedence under the President Bio led governance

They expressed total dissatisfaction over the troubling judicial precedent set by the judiciary under the government of President Julius Maada Bio, adding that, they are a committed party to upholding the rule of law and ensuring fairness and equality for all citizens, as they feel compelled to address the recent actions that threaten the integrity of the country’s legal system.

They maintained that, the Constitution of Sierra Leone stands as the cornerstone of the nation’s rule of law. It should serve as the guiding force in legal matters rather than being overshadowed by the subjective opinions of fallible judges. The principle of treating all individuals equally before the law, as enshrined in the Constitution of Sierra Leone, must be upheld without exception.

The NGC party revealed that, they are troubled by the special treatment afforded former President Ernest Bai Koroma of the All Peoples Congress (APC), adding that the legal system must ensure a consistent and fair application of the law, irrespective of an   individual’s past or present status in society. Granting bail to Former President Koroma on medical grounds may be understandable but allowing him to leave the country’s jurisdiction while facing treason charges sets a dangerous precedent.

“Let’s not forget that Ernest Koroma, as the President of Sierra Leone, held the full powers of government and had access to all the state’s resources for 11 years. During his tenure, he was responsible for addressing and improving the healthcare system, which he is now bypassing by seeking medical treatment in Nigeria.

It is preposterous that he has been granted bail to seek medical care outside of Sierra Leone. This decision only serves to reinforce the concerns expressed by sceptical Sierra Leoneans that the November 26th attempted coup may have been staged.

The granting of such special treatment raises serious questions about the legitimacy of the charges. It forces us to consider whether this is a genuine coup, in which case all individuals accused of treason should be subject to equal treatment under the law, or if it is a contrived event, allowing the system to pick and choose who is exempt from prosecution based on subjective opinion rather than the rule of law.

If this is indeed a legitimate coup, we demand that all accused individuals be treated with the same consideration as the former President. Anything less would be a grave miscarriage of justice.

Maintaining public confidence in our legal system is paramount. Therefore, it is essential to uphold the principles of fairness and consistency in applying the law.Everyone must be subject to the same legal standards,regardless of societal position. The exceptional treatment of high-profile figures undermines the public’s trust in the judiciary and risks eroding the foundation of justice and equality.

The NGC party calls upon the government and the judiciary to ensure that the rule of law prevails and that no individual is seen as above the law.

We stand firm in our commitment to safeguarding the principles of justice, equality, and fairness for all citizens and continuing to stand in solidarity with the people of Sierra Leone in demanding accountability and a commitment to upholding the rule of law.” They stated in a press release hat was signed by Alhaji K. Tarawally, Ag.Deputy National Secretary General of the party.