By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The Judiciary of Sierra Leone has disclosed that Special High Court Criminal Sessions will be held for the first time in Segbwema Town, Kailahun District with 14 cases and Kambia Town, Kambia District with 24 cases from the 7th to the 15th November, 2022.
To achieve this, the Chief Justice has assigned the Resident Judge of Kailahun District and the Resident Judge of Port Loko District to preside over these cases brought before the High Court.
In addition to the nation wide ACCESS TO JUSTICE drive, November High Court Criminal Sessions will be held in Mattru Jong with 16 cases, Pujehun 18 cases, Magburaka 30 cases, Mongo Bendugu 6 cases, Bunumbu 3 cases and Koindu 4 cases from the 7th to the 22nd November 2022.
This medium learnt that this move is part of the Honourable Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards’ commitment to enhance access to justice and to further decongest correctional centers by ensuring that accused persons have the opportunity to be tried expeditiously in their respective localities.
It was stated that litigants who have cases before the High Court in Mattru Jong, Pujehun, Magburuka, Mongo, Bunumbu and Koindu and its environs should be present in Court from the 7th to the 22nd November, 2022 at 9:00am prompt.
According to the Judiciary’s Director of Information, these High Court Criminal Sessions are fully funded by the Judiciary of Sierra Leone courtesy of the Government of Sierra Leone and geared towards improving access to Justice. It is held in places where there are no sitting Judges.