Ministry of Justice Issues Final Warning to Ex-President Koroma for Non-Compliance with Court Order
In a major event, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, the former president of Sierra Leone, has received a last warning from the Ministry of Justice asking him to abide by a court ruling over the refund payments for the sale of the nation's nurseryland.
The letter, dated 18th January emphasizes how serious the matter is and how quickly the former president must follow the court's directive.
Background
on the Court's Judgment
The Appeal Court had previously found former
President Koroma guilty of selling Sierra Leone’s Nurseryland to Winners Chapel
Church and Hillal Toufic for a sum of $135,000. The Court of Appeal's decision
mandated that President Koroma refund the entire amount of $135,000 and pay an
additional sum of Le 300,000,000.00 as court costs.
The outstanding money is still underpaid in spite of the court's explicit orders, the passing of time, and the Ministry of Justice's demand letter dated December 20, 2023, urging compliance with the court decision. The Ministry has now sent out one last warning, stressing how important it is to comply right away.
Ministry's
Demand for Immediate Compliance
In the letter, the Ministry of Justice expressly requests that the entire payment be completed within 48 hours of the letter's date. This demand's urgency demonstrates how seriously the Ministry takes the previous president's failure to comply with the court decision.
The letter makes it plain that if the deadline is missed, the Ministry will have no choice but to take additional legal action to implement the court's ruling. This could involve, but not be restricted to, the asset seizure from the former president Koroma.
The Ministry's insistence on immediate compliance and the explicit mention of potential legal action, including asset seizure, highlights the gravity of the situation. Non-compliance with a court order carries significant legal consequences, and the former president is now faced with the prospect of further legal action if the outstanding amount is not promptly settled.
The Ministry's stance suggests a commitment to upholding the
rule of law and ensuring that court judgments are respected and implemented.
The case of Sierra Leone’s Nurseryland sale and the subsequent court decision
is emblematic of the broader principle that legal judgments must be adhered to
for the proper functioning of a just and transparent legal system.
Possible
Legal Actions
The Ministry of Justice, in its warning,
indicates that if the former president fails to comply within the specified
timeframe, legal actions may follow. Seizure of assets is explicitly mentioned
as a potential consequence of non-compliance. This signals the Ministry's
preparedness to take decisive steps to enforce the court’s order and recover
the outstanding amount.
The legal actions that may be pursued could involve court proceedings to compel compliance, seeking orders for the enforcement of the judgment, and possibly initiating processes to seize specific assets to satisfy the owed amount. The Ministry's warning serves as a clear indication that it is prepared to take all necessary legal measures to ensure adherence to the court's decision.
Upholding the Rule of Law
The Ministry of Justice's final warning to the
former president, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, represents a pivotal moment in
ensuring the rule of law in Sierra Leone. The demand for immediate compliance
with the court order underscores the government's commitment to accountability
and justice.
As the deadline approaches, the nation watches closely to see
how this situation unfolds. The outcome will not only impact the resolution of
the specific case but also set a precedent for the adherence to court judgments
and the enforcement of legal decisions in Sierra Leone. The Ministry's actions
in this matter reflect the broader principles of justice, transparency, and the
rule of law that are essential for the country's democratic and legal system.