Metropolitan police at the Freetown City Council has dragged Sulaiman Bangura, Amid Jalloh and Hawa Mohamed Bangura to court for allegedly behaving in a disorderly manner while they were on their daily demolition exercise to remove those who illegally occupied their buildings.

The accused made their first appearance before the Principal Magistrate of the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1, Shar Kekura and were remanded in custody.

When the matter was mentioned, Sulaiman Bangura and Amidu Jalloh were present before the court but Hawa Mohamed Bangura was absent and so they charges were not read or explained to them.

In that circumstance, the Prosecutor ASP Ibrahim Mansaray made an application for bench warrant to arrest accused Bangura for not being present in court.

The application was granted by the Magistrate.

The witness Inspector Kabba Conteh was called out by the Prosecutor and he was asked by Magistrate Kekura if they have court order for them to go and executive their duties and he responded that he did not know but that they got an order from the Council.

He said a letter of request was sent to the Sierra Leone Police for assistance whiles executing their duties but they did not wait for the reply but went ahead and executive their duties.

Magistrate Kekura after hearing what the witness Inspector Kabba Conteh said told him again that in law whatever demolition there should be presence for security reasons.

He admitted that they just went to the alleged scene without the police protection and demolished the structures because it is property of the Freetown City Council.

Magistrate Kekura further that they are police too but their powers are limited, adding that they are metropolitan force for the Freetown City Council but the police are identify as the Sierra Leone police.

He said whether the Freetown City Council gave them mandate or not they should be accompanied by the Sierra Leone Police whenever they want to excise such duties.

Magistrate Kekura further told the witness that Freetown City Council that the law is the law and everyone should follow it, adding that if they would have followed the laws the accused would not have challenged them.

He insisted that whenever they are going for such risky exercise, they need to be with armed men to protect them.

After admonishing the metro police, Magistrate Kekura remanded the accused in custody.

The matter comes up on 28 March, 2025 for beginning of the matter.