By Marion George
Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella (KKY) representing constituency 062 in parliament has cautioned the executive against using the judiciary as a weapon to settle political scores with its predecessors. He said the nation’s democracy would be endangered if the executive is allowed to interfere with the independence of the judiciary.
Yumkella was speaking at a confirmation hearing of presidential nominees appointed to serve as justices of the superior courts of judicature on Monday.
He said they as lawmakers would do their best to make laws but these laws must be upheld by the judiciary; adding that there is an inextricable link between an effective, fair, independent judiciary and the survival of political pluralism and multi-party democracy in Sierra Leone.
“For our democracy to survive, human rights must be protected, the right to free speech and peaceful assembly should be respected,” KKY said in the chamber.
The lawmaker said he has seen judgements from the supreme court which were “equivocal” in nature, citing the sacking of the former vice president Sam-Sumana as a typical example.
“Excessive executive authority should not interfere with the independence of the judiciary otherwise this democracy would be in peril,” KKY warned.
The lawmaker however expressed optimism that the nominees would dispense justice fairly, hence the president was putting a lot of trust in them to revamp the judiciary.
He concluded that if some people would have the courage to really fight corruption, they have to be sure that they would be protected in the courts; and if they have to defend the human rights of ordinary citizens, they have to be sure they would not be victimized and there is an independent judiciary to protect them.