Sierra Leone’s fired VP seeks courtroom order to bar substitute

<span identity=”midArticle_start”/> (Reuters) – Former Sierra LeoneVice-President Samuel Sam-Sumana, who used to be fired with the aid of the presidentin March, petitioned the Supreme Courtroom on Thursday to dam hisreplacement from finishing up his obligations pending a ultimate rulingon the legality of his dismissal.

<span id=”midArticle_0″/>President Ernest Bai Koroma dismissed Sam-Sumana, claiminghe had abandoned his duties by requesting asylum at the U.S.Embassy in the capital Freetown. The ruling All People’sCongress had earlier accused him of creating his own politicalmovement and expelled the party.

<span id=”midArticle_1″/>Koroma later chose Victor Bockarie Foh to replace Sam-Sumanaover the objections of the opposition, which said he is noteligible to hold the position.

<span id=”midArticle_2″/>Thursday’s hearing was the first before the Supreme Court onthe matter.

<span id=”midArticle_3″/>”The President has unconstitutionally removed aconstitutionally elected vice president and unconstitutionallyappointed another person,” JB Jenkins Johnston, an attorney forSam-Sumana, argued before the panel of five judges.

<span id=”midArticle_4″/>Koroma said he had acted legitimately using supremeexecutive authority, but Sam-Sumana’s lawyers are challengingwhether the president’s decision complied with Sierra Leone’sconstitution.

<span id=”midArticle_5″/>As a provisional measure, they sought on Thursday to bar Fohfrom occupying the office of vice president.

<span id=”midArticle_6″/>The court adjourned pending a ruling on the motion, thoughno date was given for the decision.

<span id=”midArticle_7″/>For much of its history since gaining independence fromBritain in 1961, Sierra Leone has been plagued by politicalinstability, including a series of military coups and a1991-2002 civil war.

<span id=”midArticle_8″/>The head of the army last month ordered soldiers to remainin their barracks and warned them to steer clear of thepolitical crisis that has erupted following Sam-Sumana’sdismissal. (Reporting through Umaru Fofana; Enhancing by way of Joe Bavier, ToniReinhold)

<span identity=”midArticle_9″/>

The post Sierra Leone’s fired VP seeks courtroom order to bar substitute appeared first on Smart Health Shop Blog.

via Smart Health Shop Blog http://ift.tt/1CAqckl