By Musa Paul Feika
Kanchallie Family residents in Nyadehun Village, Bonth Distinct have dragged Sierra Rutile (RSL) and Africa Lions ( ALsL) Company Limited to the High Court for allegedly failing to compensate the Kanchallie family and others related family in Nyandehun Village, Bonthe District Imperi Chiefdom. They are before Justice Alusine Sesay.
The three witnesses, Aruna Kanchallie, Mariama Kedenel and Patrick Foday, informed the court that they recognized the two defendants, the Sierra Rutiel Company Limited (SRL) and Africa Lions Company Limited (ALSL), which are operating in their land in Nyandehun Village, Imperi Chiefdom in Bonthe district.
They added that they could recall, sometime between 2012 and 2013, when the Paramount Chief of Imperi Chiefdom, Madam Hawa Gbanabone, and other workers from Sierra Rutile Company Limited and the Africa Lions Company Limited, called them, and disclosed to them that they have got visitors from Sierra Rutile Company Limited and the Africa Lions Company Limited.
They furthered that the Paramount Chief told them that the two companies had legal interest in their land, which might be beneficial to the Kanchallie family and other inhabitants in the chiefdom.
They told the court that two companies left Dauda Kamara and Thomas Caulker, a cheque and a white man in order to visit their various farms. They said that, upon their visitation to the various farms, they were issued with Crops Assessment vouchers where they each affixed their right hand thump prints.
The company representatives vowed to pay for the different varieties of crops found in their farms. But since the agreement was made, the two companies had not paid a leone to them or any of the other relatives owning property.
Defense lawyer, Barthan Macculey, for the 1st and 2nd defendants, in his cross examination, showed the three plaintiffs the Crops Assessment vouchers, which had their right hand thump prints on them. They denied ever receiving a dime from the two defendants.
Mr. Macculey put it to the three witnesses that each one of them made several claims for their crops, Patrick Foday, Aruna Kanchallie, and Mariama Kanadel, affixed their right hand thump prints on the Crops Assessment vouchers, but the monies had not been paid to them, Mr. Macculey also said to them that nobody has stopped them in accessing the said land in question, which in their responses said to said no they had been stopped in entering the land for twenty five years.
Lawyer Francis Margai, for the plaintiffs, made an application on the grounds that he has about fifteen plaintiffs that are ready to testify. He asked for two days, which was granted. The matter was later adjourned to the 13th and 14th February, 2019.