By Ralph Sesay
Lawyers for the state at the Justice Biobele Commission of Enquiry have made an appeal to Justice Georgewill to have the former Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Minkailu Bah cross-examined in the current probe into the Ministry of Education under the Koroma era.
Lawyers for the former Minister on Wednesday presented a sworn affidavit with documents attached on behalf of the former Education Minister.
The state has in the past several weeks been leading witnesses in a probe on the activities of the Ministry of Education under the Koroma era.
Lot of issues, such as the management of donor projects at the Ministry of Education, the creation of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, especially relating to the management of scholarships to over 1,200 students by the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Education, to name but a few.
Yesterday’s hearing was for the defense lawyer, Amadu Koroma representing the former Minister of Education, Dr.Minkailu Bah, to address the Commission on the issues raised by the various witnesses led by the state.
Lawyer Amadu Koroma who was representing Dr.Bah presented to the Commission a sworn affidavit and a number of documents which, he says, will help the court to understand a number of issues regarding the activities of the Ministry of Education as presented by his client.
Justice Biobele Georgewill has argued that it behoves counsel for the state to cross examine Dr.Minkailu Bah regarding some issues in the attached documents and hence his appearance was necessary before the Commission.
Amadu Koroma ended up withdrawing the said affidavit he had earlier on presented on behalf of the former Minister of Education and requested for an adjournment to Monday 2nd September to be able to address the Commission on relevant sections of law and judicial precedents that could allow the practice of presenting sworn affidavits without bringing the individual who had sworn to the affidavit for cross examination on the documents presented before the Commission.
The Commission has granted both applications from the State and the defence and hearing adjourned to Monday 2nd September in which both sides will address the sole Commissioner on the issue.
It is highly likely that the former Minister will physically appear to throw light on the attached documents on his sworn affidavits for the benefit of the state.