S.Leone VP to challenge dismissal in court

FREETOWN. — Embattled Sierra Leone vice president Alhaji Samuel Sam Sumana has described his removal from office as “unlawful and unconstitutional”, and said he will challenge it in the country’s supreme court.

Sam Sumana, who was reacting to his removal from office by President Ernest Bai Koroma Tuesday night, said he was not appointed by the president, but was “duly elected by the people of Sierra Leone, pursuant to section 54 sub-section 3 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone”.

He said in a press release issued Wednesday that, “the President has no power under the constitution to relieve him of duties as Vice President”.

He described his sacking as contravening the constitution of the country, which he said has to be respected.

“As a peaceful and law-abiding citizen of the country, I have instructed my legal team to pursue the matter in the Supreme Court of the country”, said Sam Sumana.

In the interim, the vice president has advised all his supporters to “remain calm and law-abiding”.

Meanwhile, a non-governmental organisation, the Centre for Accountability and the Rule of Law (CARL) has also condemned the action of the president, noting that “the president did not follow the due process of the law in removing the vice president from office”.

Abu Tommy of the centre said, according to the ruling party All People’s Congress, Sam Sumana had about 30 days to appeal. But he wondered whether he was given that opportunity. Three Associations from Kono, the hometown of the Sam Sumana, issued a joint statement criticising the manner in which the vice president was removed from office. — Xinhua.