By Abubakarr Harding
High Court Judge, Honourable Justice Hannah Bonnie, after carefully listening to the oral submissions of S.K. Koroma Esq. representing Defendants/Applicants, and in consideration of the principle of natural justice which requires that the other side be heard, ordered that the Plaintiff/Respondent be given time to go through the relevant papers filed and served on him to be able to accordingly respond to the submissions made by counsel.
On Thursday, 16th February, 2023, Lawyers for the Defendants/Applicants (Interim Transitional Governance Committee-ITGC) filed a Notice of Motion to vacate the interim injunction restraining the ITGC from holding the Delegates’ Conference in Makeni slated for the 17th, 18th and 19th February, 2023. The Honourable Judge then ordered the Lawyers representing the Defendants/Applicants in the matter filed by Francis Kai Gbondo, a member of the APC Party, to serve the Plaintiff/Respondent but they were only able to do so at about at 9:00am that morning through his Chambers.
The Defendants/Applicant’s Lawyer-S.K. Koroma while canvassing the Court for stay of execution of the restraining order, went further to challenge the jurisdiction of the Court in granting the interim injunction.
According to Hon. Justice Bonnie, procedurally, Counsel for the Defendant/Applicant has to be given the opportunity to go through all relevant papers filed on him to be able to respond in line with the principle of natural justice.
The learned Judge pressed on C.Pujeh Esq. for Plaintiff/Respondent to file in all relevant papers in opposition on or before 4:00pm . C.Pujeh Esq. argued that he will be unable to do so and therefore requested for an adjournment next week.
The arguments continue, the matter has been adjourned to Wednesday, 22nd February, 2023.
In another development, Justice Hannah Bonnie was approached again with a fresh Ex-parte Notice of Motion by the Defendants/Applicants seeking an order for the APC Party to hold its National Delegates’ Conference on grounds that the injunction granted by the Honourable Court did not touch and affect the All Peoples Congress Party. That the Honourable Court do grant an order to the Transitional Interim Independent Elections Management Committee (TIIEMC) of the APC to conduct the National Delegates’ Conference slated for the 17th-19th February, 2023 in Makeni.
After listening to the oral submissions, Hon. Justice Hannah Bonnie granted leave to the All Peoples Congress to hold its National Delegates’ Conference effective 18th, 19th & 20th February, 2023 on grounds that the injunction didn’t affect the said APC Party.
Also, an order was also granted to the Transitional Interim Independent Elections Management Committee (TIIEMC) of the APC to conduct the National Delegates’ Conference in Makeni. There were no further orders as to cost.
