By Janet A. Sesay
Justice Emmanuela Harding of the Freetown High Court has on Wednesday 22 January, 2025 before Magistrate Santigie Bangura pleaded for justice to prevail between her and an accused person, Abdul Sunday whom she claimed was threatening her and her family for which she was seeking protection.
Abdul Sunday was arraigned before the Magistrate court on two count charges of trespass contrary to Section 15(I)-(a) of the Public Order Act No.46 of 1965 and assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to Section 47 of the offense against the person’s Act of 1861.
The charge sheet indicates that the accused, on Sunday, 3rd December 2024 at Ferguson Street in Freetown, unlawfully entered into the land of the complainant Abubakarr Bangura (the Judge’s husband), when required not to do so.
The charge sheet furthered that the accused also assaulted the complainant in a manner thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm.
When the matter was mentioned, Justice Harding in a separate motion, informed the Magistrate that the accused has a case with her husband who is the complainant, Abubakarr Bangura and the matter is presently before the court, but the accused wants to extend the bitterness between him and her husband to herself and the rest of her family.
She claims that the accused has attacked her and her family several times with threatening remarks against her. She mentioned that the accused even threatened to impugn her reputation being that she is a public figure.
She said she is seeking for justice and protection, which is why she went openly to the court for everyone to know.
She furthered that she is not in court for the accused to be remanded in custody but for him to be warned to stay away from her and her family.
The Prosecutors in the matter reiterated the call of Magistrate Emmanuella Harding and submitting that their client is seeking protection for her and her family.
Defense Counsel representing the accused in court disappeared in thin air during the submission of the learned Judge regarding the actions of the accused.
When the accusation was put to the accused by Magistrate Bangura since he was unrepresented, he made an initial denial, that he has never attacked the complainant nor the learned Judge or their family.
He said since the matter was brought before the court, he has been in custody and has never threatened the Judge as she is alleging.
There was a stand-down on the matter for ten minutes and when it was recalled, the accused apologized openly in court by prostrating on the floor before the Judge and the complainant promising that he would never act in such a manner again. His apology was roundly accepted by the judge and the complainant.
On that note, the accused was granted bail by the Magistrate and the matter was adjourned to 5th February 2025 for hearing.