Sierra Leone Telegraph: 20 January 2021:
Finda Diana Konomanyi – a former APC government minister of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment, who also previously served in that government as minister of Local Government and Rural Development appeared last Monday at the Court of Appeal in Freetown, after filing an appeal against the findings of the Commissions of Inquiry for corruption and abuse of office.
Also appearing at the Appeals Court presided by Justice Fatmata Bintu Alhadi, was Sogefel-Sarl.
Since the conclusion of the Commissions of Inquiry (COI) by Justice Biobele Georgewill from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Justice William Anna Atuguba from the Republic of Ghana and Justice Bankole Thompson – a Sierra Leonean judge, this is the first appearance in court made by persons of interests named in the COI reports.
During their maiden appearance before Appeals Court Justices Fatmata Bintu Alhadi, Komba Kamanda and Tonia Barnet, the Judges unanimously gave directions to the lawyers acting for Diana Konomanyi and Sogefel-Sarl, and the Attorney General and Minster of Justice representing the state, that: Synopsis of the appellants to be filed and served on the respondent by the 1st February, 2021; Synopsis of the respondent to be filed and served on the appellants by the 15th February 2021; and all synopses should have their authorities attached thereto.
The hearing was adjourned for 22nd February 2021.
The Commissions of Inquiry were set up to investigate the conduct and activities of the former APC government, led by President Ernest Bai Koroma – including former Ministers and their Deputies, Heads of Departments and Parastatals, regarding the management of State resources.
Whether we are conscious of it or not, whether we like it or not, a revolution is taking place in Sierra Leone. And there will be casualties, both direct and indirect. A former President (Errnest Koroma) has been made to face ACC to answer questions – one might say the number one casualty of the revolution. His former ministers (Diana Konomanyi being the focus at the moment) are being roped in one after the other to face the judicial system. Part of their casualty status is having to hire and pay lawyers whose fees must be quite high given the magnitude and gravity of the cases. In a way the accused are already losing some of the money they stole.
Much to the delight of most Sierra Leoneans, the revolution is already out of control and may well consume the Bio government in the future, which has triggered it. By the time the revolution ends it will no longer be called a witch-hunt but a wizard-hunt because of the extraordinary number of casualties on both sides of the political divide. One of the current headlines in the Telegraph is about Osman Foday Yansaneh – Secretary General of APC, accusing the Bio government of taking corruption to another level. Let us stand back fellow Sierra Leoneans, we are witnessing something really unique – “kaynda” and “ogiri” are about to start a war over who stinks more.
Bloody hell. That is disgusting. It will be wise for them to stop this senseless witch-hunt against Ms Finda Diana Konomanyi. A word for a wise is quite sufficient. All I see them doing, is asking Ms Finda Diana Konomanyi if she was engaged in any form of corruption during her tenure as minister in the former APC government. How on earth can you force someone to produce evidence for you to prosecute him or her? Are they mad? When such things happen, you know there is no evidence for prosecution. You go and find the evidence if you are serious.
This witch-hunt is accelerating because, they are in an excellent political and economic mess and they know very well, that we are ready to manage the hell out of the situation come 2023. Ms Finda Diana Konomanyi has the capacity to defeat any Bio SLPP kakistocracy candidate at anytime when the opportunity arises. Bottom line, they have so much personal grudge against this IRON LADY because of her popularity and political might. What the hell is the matter with them? May the almighty God bless, guide and protect Ms Finda Diana Konomanyi. Amen and Amen.
Peter Dauda says—“ Perhaps they forgot to realise that there’s such a thing as accountability.” Couldn’t agree with you more Mr. Dauda. The citizens of Sierra Leone deserve accountability from their government officials, which include former APC officials as well as the current PAOPA regime officials who have stolen billions within the past 2 years according to 2018 and 2019 audit reports. So I am joining you in demanding that we get accountability and retrieve those stolen monies.
All we are asking them for (the APC) is our money back. Perhaps they forgot to realise that there’s such a thing as accountability.
There is nothing more delightful to the eyes than a woman who is courageous enough to stand up against authoritarian rule. It is time for everyone accused by this phony entity called a functioning government to put them on notice that we would not allow them to intimidate us, or trample on our rights as citizens of Sierra Leone. Listen folks, these people are incompetent to the innermost core of their tribalistic beings; you can match them boot for boot in a court of law because they are nothing but book-cramming dummies that have no idea what it means to put to practice what they studied in their White masters schools.(lol).
Someone once overheard this criminal President, a ruthless dictator yelling angrily at the top of his voice;”David Francis tell our Gestapos in the SLPP Police and military to knock some sense into these people, 2023 is getting closer;The rule of law means nothing to me; See how Donald Trump was able to do the worst to his people and get away with it. Use your military training, instincts,brute force and steel-toes boots to make them comply.”(lol)A fraudster is what we have in State House, a puppet on a string controlled by doctorate degree holders and self-seeking fetish occult priests promising to give him victory in the year 2023. Fight them lady,come rain or sunshine, hell or high-water, resist them gallantly without fear until the end.