Concord Times (Freetown)
Alhaji Jalloh
18 November 2008
Freetown — Suspended Paramount Chief of Biriwa Chiefdom in the Bombali district has said in Freetown that he has not received any official letter of suspension from the Ernest Bai Koroma led-APC Government.
Alhaji Dr. Issa Mohamed Madesiri Sheriff, who was reacting to a recent government news release issued on November 6 calling for his suspension, told this reporter at his Kissy residence that: "Up to the time of talking to you, I have not received any suspension letter from the substantive ministry which is the Local Government."
The suspended chief continued: "I only heard my suspension on radio and read it in the newspapers. I do not consider myself being suspended until I receive an official letter from government giving tangible reasons for my suspension."
However Dr. Sheriff saw his suspension as very illegal.
"The government has violated Section 122 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone which states that the Supreme Court shall be the final Court of Appeal in and for Sierra Leone and shall have such appellate and other jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by this constitution or any other law."
The chief added: "I see no reason why I should be suspended after the same matter was taken to the Supreme Court for interpretation few weeks after my election in 2006. The court interpreted it in compliance with Section 122 Subsection 1 of the 1991 Constitution."
But in its release, government emphasized that since the matter had gone to the Supreme Court earlier and there was a court ruling relating to the chieftaincy of the chiefdom, a Judicial Commission of Inquiry should be set up for the purpose of thoroughly investigating the Biriwa chieftaincy within the realm of the law.
The government release argued that it has taken the decision to suspend from office Paramount Chief Alhaji Mohamed Madesiri Sheriff as a result of an administrative inquiry set up by the minister of internal affairs, local government and rural development, Ambassador Dauda Kamara.
The administrative investigation which was set up on June 4, 2008 by government had addressed such issues relating to the alleged violations of the provision for the crowning of paramount chiefs when PC Sheriff was crowned without the participation of the National Electoral Commission, NEC.
The embattled chief could not agree: "All I know is that I went through the process and I was voted in by my people. You don't elect yourself. If there was improper conduct of the election, it's not my business. It's the business of the same local government ministry because they conducted the election. They need to sort out their differences and leave me alone."
Meanwhile the petitioners Alhaji Umaru Conteh, Sorie Kennedy Conteh, Osman Manso Conteh, Foday Baba Conteh and Amadu Kalawa have insisted that the former SLPP Government imposed Dr. Sheriff on them and that such imposition has threatened law and order in their chiefdom.
But Dr. Sheriff would not agree: "How can I be imposed when I went through the electoral process, and it was not the government that voted me in? It's the people of Biriwa Chiefdom. That statement of an imposition is complete rubbish."
The suspended chief believes t his suspension was "highly politically motivated." When asked to substantiate his claims, the chief declined to comment but stressed: "I don't want to give detail elaboration until the findings of the commission are communicated to me. But as far as I know, they have no case against me."
But the administrative investigation recommended that the entire process be reviewed, fresh election that is transparent be held and in the light of the foregoing, the chief was advised to resign.
"They have their own option. It's up to them to decide. But how can you conduct fresh election for a legitimately elected Chief when he was massively voted in?" he queried, adding, "On my resignation, they don't have to advise me. I know what to do.
He concluded by saying that: "I want the government to go by the rule of law in this country. They should respect the Supreme Court which is the highest court of the land, except they have another court higher than the Supreme Court. I always say that I have respect for His Excellency the President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma. He is a very good leader with better vision to develop this country. But he should be cautious of sycophants around him."
"Meanwhile I would like to admonish my people to stay calm and respect the government of the day. Don't react to unnecessary provocations. The international community is keenly watching as developments unfold. Go about your normal businesses and the situation will be under control very soon."
The minister of local government could not be reached for comments.
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