By Janet A. Sesay
Dr. Richard Konteh has on Wednesday, 11th February, 2026 appeared again before Justice Manuela Harding at the Freetown High Court where he told the court that USD 8,000 was negotiated between him and the Plaintiff, Marie Sesay, who lives in the United States of America (USA) as cost for two towns plot of land including cost for a conveyance and fencing of the said land.
In a Writ of Summon by the Plaintiff, Marie Sesay, she claims recovery of the said two towns plot of land situated at Mamah Street in Gloucester in Freetown.
The Plaintiff also claims the recovery of USD 2,000 paid to Dr. Richard Konteh to facilitate the erection of a perimeter fence around a-four towns plot of land for which USD 8,000 payment was made by the Plaintiff, Marie Sesay to Dr. Richard Konteh to his bank account in the USA as payment for four towns plot of land.
During proceedings, Dr. Konteh was led in evidence by his Counsel, D.T. M. Gbondo where he identified himself as a businessman, and that he knew the Plaintiff, Marie Sesay as a relative.
Dr. Konteh during his testimony recalled making statements to the police on 31st October, 2025 and the statement was tendered in court and marked as Exhibit DW11-5.
Dr. Konteh in his examination-in-chief agreed that he had conversation with the Plaintiff in 2009 when he visited the United States of America, adding that during that visit the plaintiff asked him to buy for her a piece of land for the purpose of building a dwelling house.
Defendant Dr. Konteh went on that he asked the Plaintiff about the size of land she wanted and that she told him that she wanted two towns plot of land. He stated that he told the Plaintiff that on his return to Freetown he will check and get back to her.
Dr. Richard Konteh furthered in his testimony that the Plaintiff asked him about the cost of the land including the cost of the conveyance and fencing of the property and he said he suggested to the Plaintiff that with the sum of USD 8, 000 he might be able to buy the land, prepare the conveyance and fence the property.
Dr. Konteh furthered that at that stage of their discussion the Plaintiff did not give him cash-money but that he gave her his account details in the United States of America for her to pay the said money when it is ready.
Dr. Konteh went on that he was ready and willing at the time to pre-finance payment for the land because the Plaintiff is his relative. He said upon his return to Freetown, he contacted the man who has been helping him with land issues and asked him to provide him with two towns plots of land.
He explained that he went ahead to later pay for two towns plot of land around Tree Planting axis, but that when he reverted to the Plaintiff, she sent a relative of hers to go and inspect the said land and that the said relative was accompanied by his driver to the said land. According to Dr. Konteh few days later, the Plaintiff called him saying that the area where the said land was located is not well developed and she would rather have a piece of land in a built-up area where she can build immediately.
Defendant, Dr. Richard Konteh maintained that he informed the Plaintiff that he has a-four towns plot of land at Gloucester which he wanted to build hostels for students of Fourah Bay College but that he decided to sell two towns plot of land out of that four towns plot of land and that he would reserve the balance two towns plot of land for himself for future use.
Dr. Konteh furthered that he then instructed his Personal Assistant, Martin Jimmy to go with his Surveyor to Reverend Allan, one of his two land vendors so that they can resurvey the four towns plot of land at Gloucester and to divide it into two. He said he later got his lawyer to prepare two separate conveyances which were done in October 2010. He said the Plaintiff instructed him to give the conveyance to Abdulai Sheriff for onward delivery to her in the United States.
He went on that sometime in early 2011 Plaintiff, Marie Sesay called to thank him and to acknowledge receipt of the conveyance from Abdulai Sheriff.
At this juncture, Counsel representing the Plaintiff, Augustine Sorie Sengbe Marrah made an objection that the defendant, Dr. Richard Konteh was testifying before the court what was not submitted in the document that was served to them by his Defense Counsel, adding that Dr. Konteh’s testimony in court that the Plaintiff thanked him for the conveyance is not recorded in the document that was served to them and it will be unfair to the Plaintiff.
Defense Counsel Gbondo in reply said it is impossible for the witness to testify exactly on every detail he gave when making statements, adding that his client is testifying before the court what is relevant to his case.
Lawyer Marrah on the other hand maintained that it is unfair for the witness to adduce fresh evidence before the court that the Plaintiff thanked him is not in his witness’s statements and prayed that the learned Judge expunge such evidence before the court.
Justice Manuela Harding averred that Lawyer Marrah would be given the opportunity to cross-examine the witness based on what he is testifying.
Continuing his testimony, Dr. Richard Konteh confirmed that he knows a certain Ms. Hannah Turay but that he did not show her the four  towns plot of land he purchased at Gloucester.
He also confirmed before the court knowing a certain Ms. Florence Turay, the person that brought the matter before the court as Power of Attorney.
Dr. Konteh also confirmed before the court that he never showed Ms. Florence Turay the plot of land he bought at Mamah Street at Gloucester.
Dr. Konteh further stated that the Plaintiff sent one Abdulai Baratay to him for him to inspect the two town plots of land on Baimba Street at Gloucester and that after the visit of Baratay to the land, the Plaintiff called him with a fresh plea that she needed the entire four town plots of land but that he refused.
The Defendant Dr. Konteh went on to assert that the issue of the four town plots of land came about after the visit of Baratay to the said land because he was then trying to divide the land.
Dr. Konteh stated it was Ms. Florence Turay who made a report to the Lumley Police Station where he was later invited.
He said after explaining the matter at the Lumley Police Station the matter was referred to the Land Grabbing Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters at Pademba Road.
Dr. Konteh went on to allege that Ms. Florence Turay later went to the land and forcefully demolished the fence he was erecting around the land and he spoke Florence to understand that they are a family and also that a mutual family friend, Abdulai Timbo also tried to prevail on her on the issue but was not successful. He said that police at the CID headquarters arranged a site visit to include both sides and also including their lawyers with specific instructions.
According to Dr, Konteh, it was after that he received a summons from the court.
Dr. Konteh testified that other families intervened in the matter and that they were insisting on him to handover the other two town plots of land to the Plaintiff, but that he instead decided to give the Plaintiff another two town plots of land elsewhere but that the Plaintiff rejected it.
After Dr. Konteh’s testimony, Lawyer Marrah sought for an adjournment indicating that Dr. Richard Konteh had raised fresh issues in his testimony which he would want to verify with his client before he cross-examines him. The matter was adjourned to 17th February, 2026 for continuation.