Attorney Augustin Marrah discusses the Supreme Court's decision on ECSL

November 11, 2023

Sierra Leonean lawyer and social activist Augustin Solier-Sembe Mara ESQ said the Supreme Court had violated the 1982 Rules of Court in this matter against the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) chairman. He expressed his disappointment after the incident. General and Minister of Justice.

Mr. Mueller relied on the 1971 Interpretation Act and his 2007 High Court Rules to plead his case and that his October 23 filing, the next business day after the deadline, complied with the law. He claimed that there was.

"It's a gross mistake to say 17 days after you file your rebuttal that you didn't follow the rules," Mueller said, highlighting the potential impact on democracy and noting that cases like this should be brought before the judiciary. expressed concern about stirring up skepticism. He stressed the need for introspection, saying: "Perhaps Mr Thomas and Debbie Downers were correct in their suspicions about the lack of justice." The apology was appropriate. He called for respect for people who choose legal means to resolve government issues and stressed the importance of keeping the judiciary's doors open.

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Mara cautioned against hasty dismissal of litigants on technical grounds and stressed the importance of upholding democratic principles. The case raised questions about the accessibility and fairness of the justice system and sparked a broader debate about the role of the judiciary in Sierra Leone's democracy.