By Janet A. Sesay
Lawyer Augustine Sengbeh Marrah, in an application filed before the High Court has requested for the rebuttal of the testimonies of Dr. Richard Konteh and Abdulai Sheriff after their respective testimonies in defense. Lawyer Marrah made his submission on Tuesday, 10th March, 2026 before Justice Manuela Harding at the Freetown High Court.
Lawyer Marrah was about to make his submission seeking leave for the plaintiff, Marie Sesay, and Abdulai Baratay to testify before the court to rebut the testimonies of Dr. Richard Konteh and Abdulai Sheriff for clarity, when Defense Counsel, D. T. M. Gbondo objected. Lawyer Gbondo argued that the issue Lawyer Marrah sought to rebut were not new and that they have already been disclosed, and were included in the witness statements of both Dr. Konteh and Mr. Sheriff, marked as Exhibits DW 1, 2, and 3 respectively. He further stated that rebutted an evidence is only allowed when new matters arise in the defense case.
Lawyer Gbondo also said the matter of the registered conveyance given to Abdulai Sheriff by Dr. Richard Konteh to convey to the plaintiff had already been disclosed in the witness’s statement.
Lawyer Marrah also objected, noting that Lawyer Gbondo was responding to an application that had not yet been formally made before the court.
Justice Harding overruled Gbondo’s objection saying he was delving into the content of a submission not yet presented and asked Lawyer Marrah to proceed with his application.
In his submission of the application, Lawyer Marrah explained that the rebuttal testimonies of the two witnesses are very specific and direct. He said the plaintiff, Marie Sesay, intends to rebut the evidence of Abdulia Sheriff, who Dr. Richard Konteh testified received the registered conveyance in the United States. She plans to present documents to support her claims.
Lawyer Marrah further stated that Marie Sesay will rebut Dr. Konteh’s testimony regarding ownership of a bank account in the United States, previously tendered as Exhibit A2 1-3. She will also show that she visited Sierra Leone twice in 2010 and 2017.
The second witness, Abdulia Baratay, intends to rebut Richard Konteh’s claim that he never returned any registered deed of conveyance to him. Lawyer Marrah said Richard Konteh testified that he interacted with Baratay in 2019, but Baratay will provide evidence showing he left Sierra Leone in 2018 and was not in the country in 2019, supported by documents.
Lawyer Marrah emphasized that the rebuttal evidence is intended to help the court reach a just, fair, and equitable conclusion. He noted that several applications by defense counsel had previously gone unopposed and stressed that the testimony will clarify what transpired between the parties.
He added that these two witnesses were not originally part of the case and that this is not a recall of witnesses but a rebuttal of defense testimony. Lawyer Marrah concluded by requesting the court grant leave for the plaintiff, Marie Sesay, to testify before the court.
Defense Counsel Gbondo said he would file a written objection, but Justice Harding questioned the need for delay, noting that Gbondo had already begun addressing the content of Marrah’s submission. Marrah expressed surprise that Gbondo had not formally opposed the application despite being informed.
An adjournment was granted, and the matter is set to continue on 24th March, 2026.
Lawyer Augustine Sengbeh Marrah represents Marie Sesay, who dragged Dr. Richard Konteh to court in a Writ of Summons claiming recovery of two town plots of land at Mamah Street, Gloucester, Freetown. The plaintiff also claims recovery of $2,000 paid to Richard Konteh for facilitating the erection of a perimeter fence, as well as $8,000 deposited in his bank account in the United States.