By Lawrence Williams
The High Court of Sierra Leone has ordered a Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test to determine the paternity of a six-month-old baby at the center of a legal dispute between Justice Momoh-Jah Stevens and Ms. Edwina Hawa Jamiru.
Justice Stevens, who was placed on “administrative leave” late September following media publications the judiciary said could “adversely affect” its reputation, is disputing Ms. Jamiru’s paternity claim regarding her child, an issue that has gained significant traction on social media.
In a detailed eight-page ruling delivered yesterday, the court ruled that the DNA test was necessary to resolve the matter, citing “reasonable doubt” over the child’s paternity. The judge held that the test must be conducted by both a local and an international genetic testing laboratory not later than November 10, with the results expected within 14 days of sample collection.
The court’s decision followed exhibits presented by counsel for Justice Stevens (photo), who questioned whether he was the biological father of the child. The ruling stated that the DNA test was “the only way” to arrive at a fair determination of the matter in the best interest of the child, citing provisions in the Child Rights Act of 2007.
Ms. Jamiru, who testified under oath, declined to consent to a DNA test when asked by the court. Additionally, the court noted during cross-examination several inconsistencies in Ms. Jamiru’s statements regarding photos and social media messages submitted as exhibits, which it said “justified the plaintiff’s doubts.” “The Defendant opted to reply under oath by taking the witness box and inter alia asked by the court whether she is opposed to a D.N.A test to which she said she does not want same to be done,” ruling stated.
For instance, pictures were exhibited of Ms. Jamiru “leaning romantically on the shoulders of another man” and “kissing” him. These images, along with the inscription “God sent,” were carried on Ms. Jamiru’s WhatsApp status. Her status further read: “Thanks a lot Peterson my love. Coming to your country and enjoying my life with you strengthens our bond. You are the best man ever. I never regretted loving you. I can’t wait for us to get married. I wanna be yours forever Peterson. You are my true Habbi Peterson,” accompanied by red love emojis.
The court highlighted that these events occurred while Ms. Jamiru was “heavily pregnant” with the child in question.
“It would be foolhardy for the court to turn a blind eye to deny the application for a DNA,” the judge wrote, adding that such testing was necessary to avoid subjecting “the plaintiff to be paying maintenance for a child for which he reasonably holds a doubt that he is not the biological father.”
The judge concurred with the plaintiff’s counsel, stating, “I must state that I agree with the counsel for the plaintiff that exhibit ‘C1(1-3) indeed would raise eyebrow justifying the doubt that the plaintiff has thus, warranting the present application especially so in December of 2024 when the Defendant was heavily pregnant with the child in issue subsequently given birth to same on the 10th April 2025.”
Under the ruling, the court’s master and registrar will supervise the testing process, ensure compliance, and oversee the collection and handling of samples. The court also invited representatives from the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, the Human Rights Commission, and interested women’s rights groups to observe the process if they so wished.
Samples be collected voluntarily or by force if necessary to ensure compliance, the court ordered.
If the DNA results confirm Justice Stevens as the biological father, he will be legally responsible for the child’s maintenance and upkeep until age 18, with payments to be made into an interest-bearing account managed by Ms. Jamiru, in accordance with child support laws.
