Director at the Ministry of Finance Charged to Court
By Bonnke Fofanah
Joseph Ngegba, a Director at the Ministry of Finance Inventory Unit has made his first appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Magistrate Court No.1, in Freetown.
The accused was arraigned before the court on four count charges to wit trespass, malicious damage, threatening language and intimidation, all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
When the charges were read and explained to him, he pleaded not guilty.
According to the police charged sheet, the accused person on the 11th May 2023, at No.2 River off Peninsular Road in Freetown, unlawfully encroached in an annoying manner upon the land situated lying and being at No.2 River off Peninsular Road Freetown belonging to Alhaji Dauda the complainant.
Furthermore, it was alleged on count two that on the above said date and place in Freetown, the accused did maliciously damage an iron gate on the above said land valued fifty thousand Leones (Le50,000), property of Alhaji Dauda.
Police sheet revealed by claiming that, on the same date and place in Freetown, the accused did make use of threatening language against the complainant with intent to annoy him.
It was further alleged that, the accused on the above mentioned date and place in Freetown did intimidate the above said complainant in an effort to prevent him from going about his lawful business.
The complainant, Alhaji Dauda, testified in court that he came to know the accused in respect of the matter. He recalled on the 11th May 2023, he was hosting workers at the said site at No.2 wherein they were trying to fix up a gate to secure the land. He further stated that the accused person together with other individuals came with thugs, machetes in their hands and disrupted their work.
He stated that the accused threatened him that “Dis na we government en nobody nor go do me anything or even question me sef.” The complainant further mentioned that the accused ordered his men to chase him out of the land. He also told the court that he went and reported the matter at the Lumley Police Station to the Land Grabbing Unit. He added that, together with Inspector Edward Conteh they also visit the crime scene and snapshot were taken and statement was obtained from him.
At this juncture, the prosecutor sought for a short adjournment date for his client.
The Defence Counsel made an application for bail for and on behalf of the accused person. However, the prosecuting counsel objected to the bail application.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Kekura granted accused person bail in the sum of one hundred thousand Leones (Le100,000) with one surety, and such surety must be employed and resident in Freetown. And the bail should be approved by the Master and Registrar. The matter was adjourned to the 13th of March, 2024.
