The Supreme Court of Sierra Leone has dismissed the legal action initiated by Augustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah Esq against the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), Chief Electoral Commissioner, and Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
The dismissal is based on Marrah’s non-compliance with the Supreme Court Rules 1982, specifically Rule 90 (1), as he filed his statement of case out of the stipulated time.
Lawyer Marrah had previously filed an application in October, seeking the construction, interpretation, and enforcement of section 25 of the constitution of Sierra Leone Act No. 6 of 1991 in alignment with section 2 of the Right to Access Information Act 2013.
The application aimed to secure access to unaggregated data results, particularly the Results Reconciliation Forms from all 11,712 polling stations that were the foundation of ECSL’s announcement during the last general elections.
Marrah contended that ECSL’s denial of access was not only unlawful but also unjust, constituting a violation of his rights to freedom of expression and access to information, as outlined in the country’s constitution and the Right to Access Information Act of 2013.
The lawyer emphasized that his legal action was not intended to challenge the election’s outcome but rather underscored the paramount importance of transparency, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law in the electoral process.”
