By Janet A. Sesay
Joseph Kobba, a tribal head in the Bumpe Ngao Chiefdom on Thursday, 30th January, 2024 testified in the ongoing chieftaincy matter regarding the election of Alfred Sovula Gondama as Paramount Chief before Justice Alfred Tommy Ganda in the High Court.
As a civil matter in accordance with Section 13 of the Chieftaincy Act 2009, is a petition by Sakpa Jibao Gbekpa (Petitioner) against the result that sought to have elected Alfred Sovula Gbandoma as Paramount Chief of Bumpe Gao Chiefdom in Bo District. The petition claim is directed at the Election Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) as First Respondent, the Provincial Secretary as Second Respondent and Alfred Sovula Gondama as Third Respondent.
The First Witness for the Petitioner, Joseph Kobba identified himself as a tribal head and a farmer resident in Bumpe Gao Chiefdom. He was led in evidence by Lawyer B.J. Reffle.
He also described himself as an elder and a tribal authority in the said Chiefdom, adding that he has made a witness statement to his lawyer.
The witness statement dated 21st January, 2025 was shown to him and he identified same, and thereafter the lawyer applied for it to form part of the case pursuant to order 30 Sub-Rule 1A.
The witness in further evidence said he knows the Petitioner, Moses Sakpa Gbekpa as a grandson to their late Paramount Chief, Francis Kposowa, adding that he came to know the three defendants including Sovula on the day for the Declaration of Rights to the Chieftaincy.
According to him, he had knowledge of the petition and that on the day of the declaration, the Third Defendant told them that he is also from a ruling house but according to him, he and one Madam Irene Labor objected the claim that the Third Defendant is not from any of the Chiefdom’s Chieftaincy Dynasties.
He explained that the objection was made in the presence of Senior District Officer (SDO), the Provincial Secretary, the Senior Clerk, the local government officials present and the Tribal Authorities present.
Lawyer Cummings representing the ECSL as the First Defendant, objected to this bit of evidence stating that some of what the witness was saying had never been part of his earlier statement, adding that his lawyer should seek leave of the court as per the rules demand.
The Plaintiff’s Applicant, Lawyer Reffle in reply, submitted that the word several would cover the name Irene, and in the circumstance applied as per the rules that several other issues not specifically mentioned in the witness statement including other names that the court has granted leave, to call names that are not stated in the witness statement which includes names from the Respondents.
His application was granted by the learned Judge.
Mr. Kobba in continuation of his evidence, said he also objected on the basis that the name Gbandoma was never from a ruling house in Bumpe Gao, adding that after their objection the SDO he said, asked for a fifteen (15) minutes stand-down which was agreed to. The purpose of the stand-down was based on their objection that Alfred Sovula is not from a ruling house.
According to the witness, when he was born in 1957, Francis Kposowa was the Paramount Chief, adding that the First Paramount Chief of Bumpe Gao Chiefdom was Madam Monowa, thereafter Madam Boi Nessie, and then Paramount Chiefs Gbekpa, Kobba Jengo, Francis Kposowa, Borbor Kpaka and J.C. Kposowa.
He added that no Gbandoma has ever become Paramount Chief in their Chiefdom. He stated that after the fifteen minutes stand-down, the objection was not put to a vote to determine its veracity.
During cross-examination of the witness by Lawyer Cummings, Counsel for the First Defendant (ECSL), he was asked whether Gondama’s when name was on the gazette, the witness answered in the affirmative, and when he was further asked whether Irene Labor was a tribal head, he replied that she is a tax payer but cannot tell whether her name was in the gazette.
Lawyer Saccoh, Counsel for the Third Defendant, Alfred Sovula Gandoma during cross examination of the witness, the witness said he was present during the declaration of right meeting which took place in the Court Barray.
The witness in further evidence said it was Irene Labor who first objected to the declaration of right of Alfred Sovula after which there was a revision of the gazette list.
The witness also revealed that the gazette is review after every three years and that during the declaration, three Assessor Chiefs were present.
Lawyer Saccoh further confronted the witness that he had told the court that he had never seen a Gbandoma chief, the witness replied in the affirmative, but when asked whether he knew one Anthony Gbandoma, the witness said yes.
In further cross examination of the witness by Lawyer Alie on behalf of the Second Respondent, the Provincial Secretary, he asked the witness how they determine a Paramount Chief and the witness in reply said one has to hail from a chieftain ruling house.
When he was asked how many chieftaincy elections have been conducted in Bumpe Gao Chiefdom since he was born in 1957, the witness said three, adding that in 1973, the Kposowa, Kpaka, Kobba and other names of confirmed chieftain houses contested. The witness further confirmed that after the declaration of rights a box is given to the confirmed candidate.
In re-examination of the witness by Lawyer Reffle, Counsel for the Petitioner, the witness also confirmed that the Gandomas are never from a chieftain ruling house.
Lawyer Reffle therefore informed the court that on the next adjourned date, he has a video that he wants to tender in court.
The matter was adjourned to Monday, 3rd February 2025 for further hearing.