Author: gleanernewspaper

By Jeneba Conteh. In a high-profile case that has sparked widespread public interest, Michael Magai, the plaintiff, has filed legal action against Chief Jibao Russell, the Paramount Chief of Lower Banta Chiefdom in Gbangbatoke, Moyamba District. The case, which is currently before Justice Alhaji Momoh Jah Stevens at the Freetown High Court, centres on serious allegations of corruption and embezzlement involving funds designated for the development of the chiefdom. Magai is seeking an interim injunction to prevent Chief Russell from continuing to act in his capacity as paramount chief while the court deliberates on the matter. The plaintiff contends that Russell…

By Jeneba Conteh. In a significant legal development, Yusif Turay, Ibrahim Thullah, and four other Orange Money agents appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at the Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown, facing serious allegations of fraud against Orange Mobile Finance Limited. The total amount in question is a whopping 19,878,360 Leones.The accused, including Ibrahim Nat Thomas, Hassan Gibril Kargbo, Alhaji Santigie Sesay, and Sheriff Osman Sankoh, were charged with three counts each. These charges include conspiracy to defraud, which is against existing law, as well as two counts of larceny by a servant, which violates Section 17 (1)(a) of…

On April 9, 2025, a delegation from the World Bank and the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project (SLDTP) provided an important update to the Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas regarding the ongoing digitalisation efforts of the Sierra Leone Parliament. The delegation informed the Speaker that they had completed the procurement process and signed contracts to initiate the e-Parliament Project, which is funded by the World Bank. The team of experts outlined that the e-Parliament initiative aims to digitise and modernise the core functions of the Sierra Leone Parliament, transitioning from a traditional manual system to a more efficient paperless operation.…

His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, has reiterated his call for immediate reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), arguing that its current structure is antiquated and fails to adequately represent the global community, particularly the African continent. This appeal was made during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where President Bio joined other world leaders for the event’s official opening, receiving a warm welcome from His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Türkiye. In his opening remarks, President Erdoğan expressed gratitude to the attending leaders for their participation and reaffirmed his…

In a case that has raised eyebrows in the financial community, Guaranty Trust Bank (SL) Ltd. and several prominent individuals, including Ikubolaje Nicol, Augustus Issa Turay, and Patrick Adeyemi Eegunnike, are facing serious legal challenges in the High Court. The charges, presided over by the Honourable Justice A. R. Mansaray, include five counts: Conspiracy to Defraud, Falsification of Accounts, Forgery, Uttering Forged Documents, and Failure to Keep Records of Transactions. The latter charge is specifically directed at the bank under the recently enacted Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism and Financing the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act…

On April 10, 2025, the National Revenue Authority (NRA) celebrated a pivotal achievement in its Data Warehouse sustainability initiative with a blended training and farewell ceremony. The event marked the successful completion of a specialized capacity-building program spearheaded by Mr. Arfan Anif, an esteemed ICT Data Analyst from the Monitoring, Research, and Planning (MRP) Department. The training aimed to bolster the skills of the staff in critical areas such as data management, integration, and visualization. These competencies are essential for the Authority’s strategy to ensure effective post-implementation support for the NRA Data Warehouse. Participants gained hands-on experience and practical knowledge…

Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay Esq., recently addressed participants at the opening session of a three-day Working Group Meeting focused on the ECOWAS Regional Trafficking in Persons Plus Strategy, held in Freetown. This significant gathering brought together regional stakeholders to concentrate on critical aspects of human trafficking, including prevention, investigation, and prosecution. Attorney General Sesay underscored the urgency of aligning Sierra Leone’s strategies with those of neighboring countries, emphasizing that human trafficking is a transnational crime that necessitates cooperative efforts across borders. “Trafficking in persons is a crime that doesn’t respect borders. It’s a regional response from…

President Julius Bio In a disturbing move that raises serious concerns about press freedom, journalists in Sierra Leone have reportedly been ordered to stop reporting on Jos Leijdekkers, a fugitive Dutch drug criminal known as ‘Bolle Jos.’ According to anonymous sources who spoke with RTL Nieuws, this directive is part of a larger effort orchestrated by the government, specifically at the request of President Julius Bio. Allegations have surfaced that journalists are being bribed to remain silent, with payments totaling thousands of dollars. Leijdekkers, who is wanted internationally, was sentenced to 24 years in prison in the Netherlands for serious…

BY-SHOBHA SHUKLA – CNS In the lead up to 2025 World Health Day, we need to review why almost half of women are not able to make decisions about their own reproductive health and bodily autonomy. All governments had promised to deliver on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, one of which is SDG indicator 5.6.1. “This indicator measures a woman’s ability to make her own decisions about her sexual and reproductive health. Initial analysis suggests that over half (56%) of the married or in-union women are now in the driver’s seat. But it also means that when…

ASTANA – To bolster bilateral relations, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu met with Timothy Musa Kabba, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, during his inaugural official visit to Astana on April 8. The discussions centered on fostering collaboration across various sectors, including trade, transport and logistics, healthcare, and agriculture.Kazakhstan, recognized as one of the world’s leading grain producers, expressed its keen interest in leveraging the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route to facilitate the export of essential goods such as grain, cereals, oilseeds, high-quality meat, and organic products to African markets. This initiative aims to…