Justice Augustine K. Musa Presides Over High Court Criminal Session

High Court Judge, Honourable Justice Augustine K. Musa (J) has concluded proceedings (Call Over) on forty-eight (48) criminal cases brought before the High Court, marking the opening of the May 2025 High Court Criminal Calendar. The High Court ‘call over’ of cases which marked the opening of the May 2025 High Court Criminal Calendar is for the purpose of the Presiding Judge taking the pleas of all accused persons committed for trial by Magistrates’ Courts, and those whose indictments were preferred with the consent in writing of a Judge. Where an accused person pleads guilty to any offence during the proceedings, the Presiding Judge is entitled to proceed to sentencing and where there is not guilty plea, the Presiding Judge will adjourn the trial to a specific date when the case will come up before a Judge to whom the case will be assigned. During the course of the opening proceedings, seventeen (17) accused persons pleaded guilty to various offences. Seven (7) among them pleaded guilty to the offence of unlawful possession of drugs and were convicted and sentenced accordingly. Sallay Kanu, a mother of six with her last child aged four, was charged with unlawful possession of 2.1 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa. Sallay told the court that her intention was not to engage in the business of drugs but to use it for medicinal purpose. She said her eldest daughter was asthmatic and she (the convict) was advised to use the drug to cure her dying daughter. Also, Saffie Fornah and Magaret Bockeria were both charged separately with the offense of unlawful possession of 30.0 kilograms of Kush respectively contrary to section 8 (a) of the National Drugs Control Act 2008, Act No. 10 of 2008. Alfred Aminu and Abdulia Kamara were found in possession of 40.0 kilograms respectively, while Alpha Sesay was found in possession of 30.3 kilograms of kush. They all pleaded guilty to the offence of unlawful possession of drugs. In his plea in mitigation for the convicts who pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful possession of drugs, defence Lawyer Cyril Taylor-Younge said the convicts are very young and did not waste neither the court’s time nor its resources. He added that the convicts have learnt their respective lessons and promise to be very useful in society if pardoned. Affirming that the convicts are young and may have learnt their respective lessons, Hon. Justice Musa maintained that the issue of unlawful possession of drugs which most of the convicts were charged with is becoming a national concern and the Judiciary is obliged by law to ensure that it is swiftly addressed. The Hon. Justice A. K. Musa sentenced all accused persons convicted of unlawful possession of drugs to five (5) years imprisonment each including time already spent at the Correctional facilities. Additionally, Mousa Sewa is before the court to answer to the offense of murder contrary to section 1 (a) of the Offenses against the Person Act 1861 as repealed by section 1 (a) to the schedule of the Abolition of Death Penalty Act, 2022 Act No. 6 of 2022. Mousa was alleged to have murdered Massah Massaquoi. The accused pleaded not guilty upon his arraignment. The Hon. Judge also committed to prison Hussein Anter, Jamal Antar and Sulaiman Barrie who are charged jointly and severely with a thirty-two count indictment ranging from conspiracy contrary to section 28 (3)(c) of Anti Money Laundering and Combating of Financing of Terrorism and Financing the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, 2024 Act No. 4 of 2024 in which they all pleaded not guilty.  In another development, one Augustine Momoh, charged with Burglary and Larceny contrary to sections 25 (1) and 13 (a) of the Larceny Act, 1916, pleaded guilty and due to his poor health condition, the Hon. Justice Musa sentenced him to time spent.  On another note, Mohamed Sesay, who was charged with the offense of conspiracy to commit House Breaking and Larceny was also sentenced to time spent. Justice Musa also sentenced one Pastor Fatoma Tommy Jusu to five (5) years imprisonment or in the alternative to pay fifty thousand Leone for operating private security without valid license, The State is represented by Lawyer Yusuf Isaac Sesay and team from the Law Officers’ Department while the accused persons are represented by Lawyer Cecilia Tucker and team from Legal Aid Board.