Morlu alleges that the government violated his fundamental rights to remedy and access to justice. In his demand for justice, he seeks a compensation of USD 250,000, a government-guaranteed surgical procedure to remove a bullet lodged in his abdomen, and comprehensive measures to restrain the use of excessive force during peaceful protests. These measures encompass police training and the provision of suitable law enforcement equipment.
The lawsuit recounts events from November 2016 when Morlu, along with fellow students, engaged in two student-led “peaceful protests” during a university lecturers’ strike. These protests led them to the Ministry of Education office in Bo in February 2017.
While demonstrating, the students encountered a police barricade near the Bo West Police Station. Notably, these officers were from the Operations Support Division (OSD) of the Sierra Leone Police and were heavily armed.
Tensions escalated as students engaged with Ministry staff, culminating in a moment when two police trucks filled with armed OSD officers, led by Mohamed Turay, known as “Yete Yete,” approached the peaceful protestors. The situation escalated, with students throwing stones, prompting an order from Turay to open fire. Amidst the chaos, Morlu was shot in the upper abdomen by an OSD officer while attempting to flee. He later regained consciousness at Bo Government Hospital. Persistent pain led to CT scans, confirming the presence of the bullet, but surgical removal was considered potentially harmful.
The Independent Police Complaints Board (IPCB) conducted an inquiry into the incident and found the actions of the police to be excessive. They recommended referring the case to the Sierra Leone Ministry of Justice’s Director of Public Prosecutions for legal guidance on potential prosecutions. However, as of now, no directives have been issued.
The initial hearing for this high-profile case will be presided over by Justice Edward Amoako Asante, with the support of Justices Gberi-Be Ouattara and Sengu M. Koroma. This case is poised to have far-reaching implications, shedding light on issues of police brutality and the protection of citizens’ rights in the region.
