Umaru Fofana (Politico)
Sierra Leone Telegraph: 11 April 2017
The sacked vice president of Sierra Leone – Samuel Sam-Sumana returns home on Thursday, 13 April, 2017, to register to vote in presidential and legislative elections scheduled for March next year. Ahead of his arrival, his lawyer – Dr Raymond A. Atugba, has written to President Ernest Bai Koroma and copied to all West African heads of state, calling for the guaranteeing of the safety and security of his client.
Sam Sumana is suing the Koroma government in the ECOWAS Court, over his controversial dismissal as vice president. He is claiming about $210 million in damages.
Speaking to Politico, Chief Sam-Sumana (Photo: Far right) said he was going to continue with his political career. He said he was concentrating on his case at the ECOWAS Court which comes up on 26 April, 2017, before holding consultations to determine his next move.
Asked whether or not he was planning to set up or join a new political party, he responded: “I will not rule out any political party, and will make my decision after consulting with my family, friends and supporters”.
There has been speculation that he plans to work with a new political movement, made up mostly of disgruntled members of his former APC party.
Sam-Sumana was controversially sacked as vice president in March, 2015, shortly after he had been expelled from the ruling APC party on allegations of lying about his academic qualification, his faith and being involved in anti-party activities. He had dismissed these allegations as false.
He later went to Ghana where he has been living since 15 October 2015. His arrival in Freetown on Thursday, 13 April, 2017, will be his first since leaving the shores of Sierra Leone.
Writing to president Koroma last week, Sam Sumana’s lawyer – Dr Raymond A. Atugba said: “I act as Solicitor for His Excellency Alhaji Samuel Sam-Sumana, the constitutionally elected Vice President of Sierra Leone and the Plaintiff in the above-named case, pending before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice.
“On October 24, 2016, I filed an Application on behalf of my Client before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, seeking an enforcement of his fundamental human rights arising from his unconstitutional removal from office, and for further orders contained in the application. This matter has been set down for hearing by the court for April 26, 2017.
“The National Electoral Commission (NEC) of Sierra Leone has set March 20, 2017 to April 16, 2017 for registration of voters for the upcoming Presidential Elections due on March 7, 2018.
“My Client intends to register and participate immensely in the upcoming elections, but has been unable to do so for fear of his life and safety, as well as that of his family, supporters and well-wishers.
“On March 20, 2017, the date the registration exercise commenced, I filed an application for provisional measures and instructions in respect of the matters immediately above, before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice and expect a date for the hearing of that application shortly.
“Since registration for the upcoming elections is underway and closes in some eight (8) days, I am by this letter additionally requesting your high office to provide security for the safety of my Client, his family, supporters and well-wishers, as they take steps to participate in this all important political process. This, I believe, is necessary to uphold the democracy which we all strive to build in Africa…”
(This article has been published courtesy of Umaru Fofana)
Sam samana should not join APC
Samuel Sam-Sumana should have nothing to do with APC. They betrayed him. Charles Margai supported APC, now his political career is something not to talk about.
The sacking of the former vice president was unconstitutional. The rule of law has to be respected.
He has the CIVIC Right to do anything as long as he does it within the dictates of the Law. And he has the Moral Right to Sue who so ever he FEELS has Offended or TRAMPLE on his Human Right.
But the FEAR of Everybody is: was he dismissed on hatred or technical or constitutional stand? Have we further done a thorough background check of the accusations made against him?
My Brothers,this Alhaji we are supporting, as I was doing, will mesmerize you. And even his Kinsmen in Kono will speak volumes.
The elected Vice President honourable Alhaji Sam-Sumana has all the right to sue president Koroma for all the damages he had done to him. I give him all my support and I hope he will win his case in due course and With respect.
Let’s don’t forget he’s the elected Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. He must be respected in the entire circle of the APC government.
Vice President has nothing to lose and he will get a judgement in his favour for 210 million Dollars. The main question is, how will Sierra Leone pay this amount??