By Foday Jalloh
Lusane Amara, Kadiatu Sheriff, Ibrahim Jalloh and Vandy Sheriff, all local farmers, Moyamba district, the Southern region has dragged a multimillion United States Dollars companies; Sierra Rutile and Africa Lion Agricultural company to the High Court of Sierra Leone, as first and second defendants respectively.
In their testimonies in court on Monday 24 July 2023, they described themselves as peaceful community farmers who have been disadvantaged by the above-mentioned companies, by forcefully taking away their farmlands from them and converted them for their benefits since 2015. The plaintiffs, who are pure natives of the respective communities, spoke through an interpreter that told the court that since 2015 unto date both the Sierra Rutile and Africa Lion Agricultural companies continue to use their farmlands without compensation, which is why they decided to approach the High Court of Sierra Leone to seek justice.
The four plaintiffs are represented in the matter by Charles Francis Margai.
Testifying under oath, the plaintiffs explained that the companies have destroyed their farms, which were their only sources of income to upkeep their families.
They informed the court that both Sierra Rutile and Africa Lion Agricultural companies went around farms in the district and its environs for inspection and assessments with a compensation promise which they have failed to go by.
The plaintiffs told the court that a traditional authority by the name of Daramy Vandy was a signatory to the agreement that both companies subscribed and promised to pay them compensations.
Representing the defendants before Hon. Justice Adrian Fisher was lawyer Ade Macaulay Senior.
The matter was adjourned 7th October 2023.
