By Audrey Raymonda John

The Mayor of Freetown Her Worship Yvonne Aki Sawyer on Monday 16th January 2023 has testified on oath before Principal Magistrate Mark N’gegba for allegedly obstructing Police duty at the Lungi International Airport on Saturday 17th September 2022

Led in evidence by lead Defense Counsel Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, Madam Yvonne Aki Sawyer as the first Defense witness said among her duties and responsibilities set out in the local government act is to promote the welfare of citizens within the municipality of Freetown and might have cause to travel to seek external funding in complementing the government’s development agenda.

She recalled that on 17th September 2022, she has scheduled to travel to New York on an invitation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and was to speak on the localization of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) as part of the united nation general assembly (UNGA) meetings, adding that part of the invitation was to come along with a member of the government council committee or with a member of staff of the council.

She was in this case accompanied by the Chairperson of the Development and Urban Planning Committee Councilor Sheku Turay who separately received his own invitation.

She said that on the date of traveling, while at the airport’s VIP lounge having completed security checks and boarding passes handed over to them, Councilor Alhassan Sheku Gibril Turay went for 4pm prayers while she was on a conference call, she heard through the public announcement system at the airport that the said Councilor was to report to the Immigration at the airport.

Mayor Yvonne Aki Sawyer said she thought the Councilor had not completed certain protocols for which he was needed, adding that Councilor Turay responded to the call. She said it was during this course that her phone was buzzing persistently by both known and unknown numbers ringing her phone.

She furthered that when she answered her phone, Councilor Turay informed her that he had been arrested and detained at the police station in Lungi which she estimated was about 150 meters from the airport, adding that Councilor Turay did not tell her the reason for his arrest. She testified that she reached the police station about 30 minutes before their flight was to take off, and while at the police station, she said she was only aware of one officer who was around at that particular time and heard the voice of the arrested Councilor beckoning on the attention of the Mayor.

She said having looked through the narrow space at the police station; she said she saw a lady assumed to be a police officer in plain clothes and upon enquiring whether or not the officers had warrant of arrest, she said they told they were only junior officers.

Her Worship Yvonne Aki Sawyer told the court that after requesting to speak to Councilor Turay, she said a police officer offered to accompany her to the Local Unit Commander whose office was in another building.

She said on the verge of leaving the room, the Mayor said she took out her phone and narrated on Facebook about her experience on “arbitrary arrest without warrant “, “actions by state institutions to deprive citizens of their human rights on matters of public interest”, adding that she described the incident as traumatizing.

She added that prior to the arrest the Mayor said she and the arrested Councilor were not aware of any police interest in Councilor Turay.

She said on her way to the LUC, the Air France Manager called her that the flight was boarding so she immediately left to on board

Mayor Yvonne Aki Sawyer said until 7pm she was still on her conference call and was on the conference call at about 6:45pm when the announcement was made at the airport’s public announcement system for the arrest of Councilor Turay.

She said the persistent call that was buzzing her phone was from the same cell phone number, adding that she did not ask Councilor Turay why he was arrested.

The Mayor was shown her statement that she made to the police four months ago for clarity and certainty and she disclosed that she was advised by the Minister of Planning and Economic Development Dr. Francis Kaikai whose intervention was requested to call the Head of Immigration as advised.

Mayor Yvonne Aki Sawyerr told the court that she did exactly as instructed and the matter was a police matter and that Dr. Kaikai was not a Lawyer and also choose not to call any senior police officer in that situation where she had very limited time.

She said she did not enquire to ascertain whether Councilor Turay’s arrest is from the Immigration Department or the police, adding that Councilor Turay had earlier on told him that he was interrogated and arrested in relation to the August 10th 2022 nationwide protest.

State Counsel Y.I Sesay put it to the witness that a warrant of arrest can only be put to the person being arrested and not the witness, but defense counsel objected but, Magistrate Mark N’gegba overruled objection of the defense counsel.

When asked by State Counsel if the Mayor went to the police station she replied in the affirmative to prevent the Councilor from making a statement.

At this stage, State Counsel Y.I Sesay requested for an adjournment of the matter, adding that he has another matter at the High Court but, the defense counsel, Lawyer Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara objected, noting that his commitment elsewhere is irrelevant.

Magistrate Marke Ngegba addressed both counsels stating that it is the spirit of the Court to ensure speedy trial, but said cannot determine the number of questions the prosecution should ask.

It could be recalled the Mayor of Freetown is allegedly accused of obstructing the police during their course of duty on Saturday 17th September, 2022 at the Airport Police Division, Lungi, Kaffubulom Chiefdom, Port Loko Judicial District.

The accused Yvonne Aki Sawyer obstructed Sergeant Richard Junior Caulker and Corporal 12225 Fanta Fofanah while executing their lawful duties and did behave in a disorderly manner.

Principal Magistrate Mark N’gegba has adjourned the matter to Thursday 19th January 2023.