By Janet A Sesay
The Judiciary has opened a book of condolence for the late Vice President and Attorney-General Solomon Ekuma Berewa, at the Chambers of the Chief Justice on Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown.
Justice Browne Marke, who represented the Chief Justice, offered his tribute on behalf of the Judiciary and officially signed the book of condolence for their fallen colleague.
Justice Browne Marke described the late man as a distinguished scholar under whose supervision he served the Law Office as a senior state counsel.
Late Solomon Berewa, he continued, was a very brilliant man who played his own part and made a significant difference to the country’s legal profession
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Madam Priscilla Schwartz, in her tribute, noted that, in 1939, Solomon Ekuma Berewa, the former Vice President, began his career as a teacher and was later called to the Bar in 1972.
The former Vice President, Dr Schwartz said, started legal practice at the Law Officers Department in Bo as senior state counsel instead of taking up private practice.
Late Solomon Ekuma Berewa, Madam Schwartz added, set up the Berewa Law Firm in 1980 which, according to her, remained one of the most successful law firms today in the country.
She praised the late man for his craftiness and prowess in the area of criminal practice not only locally but also internationally.
The former Vice President, she said, was later appointed in 1981 by the state to prosecute a treason case trial in the Gambia. Upon his return, Madam Schwartz went on; he started lecturing at the Sierra Leone Law School.
Solomon Ekuma Berewa was appointed Attorney-General and Minister of Justice in 1996 and he championed the establishment of the Special Court for Sierra Leone to try perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The late Vice President was also assigned to lead the successful signing of the Lome Peace between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).
The signing of the peace accord led to the end of the eleven years rebel war in Sierra Leone.
Speaking on behalf of the Sierra Leone Bar Association, the country’s umbrella body for lawyers, Francis Gabbidon recounted knowing the former Vice President in 1970 after he completed his studies at Fourah Bay College.
He said they met in England to study law and the late man, according to him, secured a distinction in International Law.
Lawyer Gabbidon also said he was aware that the former Vice President had gone to the Gambia to prosecute matters where he performed very well.
He described the late Solomon Berewa as a man who contributed a lot in bringing lasting peace to Sierra Leone and defending the rule of law.
Amos Simche Lansana, grandson of the late Solomon Berewah, on behalf of the family, thanked the Judiciary of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the Law Officers Department and the Sierra Leone Bar Association for sympathizing with them during their great loss.