By Ragan M Conteh
The Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament, Hon Bashiru Silikie and a hosts of MPs have called for the judiciary to appear in parliament.
The MP said the Judiciary of Sierra Leone has a role to play in the fight against drug abuse. He said they will summon the judiciary to answer questions on why drug barons are arrested, charged to court but ended up floating in the streets as free citizens with crime.
The leader made the submissions on Monday 18 March 2024 during a hearing in the midst of relevant stakeholders including the Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police (SLP) Williams Fayia Sellu and other stakeholders.
During the hearing, IG Sellu accused the director of Public Prosecution (DPP) of assigning files to junior lawyers for advice and on proffering charges.
He said there is tendency for those young and infant lawyers to compromise cases of drugs abuse.
He further alleged that most of the sentences given by magistrates are done by a minimal way, adding that most of the sentences levied by the magistrates are not commensurate to the offences charged.
He made it clear that the judiciary are making the system very funny for them.
He confirmed that $102 tromadols ( drug) were arrested at Water Quay and they had been burnt down.
He assured that kush is manufactured locally, but the Marshmello and Asatonic are imported into the country through the country’s ports.
He said when they started intercepted the drugs at the International Air Port it was when it began to be imported through the sea ports.
IG Sellu suggested to the House to set up a fast-track court to curb the menace of the drug in the country.
The deputy leader of Government Business in the House of Parliament Hon. Bashiru Silikie representing Bo district asserted that Sierra Leone cannot be degenerated into a drug state.