The newly decorated Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu, has been accused by lawyers whose clients are currently held in custody at detention facilities in different locations, of denying suspects access to legal representation.
The accusations are being registered two in letters addressed to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, copied the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the Vice President, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Solicitor General, the Inspector General of Police and six others.
The letter, drawing the attentions of State authorities including the Attorney General and Minister of Justice about the Inspector General of Police’s persistent denials of suspects’ legal representation as well as police refusal to grant lawyers access to their clients.
According to Lansana Dumbuya Esq., a retained Barrister and Solicitor for MED KAY, JOHN YAPO BANGURA, KADIE CONTEH, LUCY TURAY, SANTIGIE DUMBUYA, ABU BAKARR KAMARA SAIDU DUMBUYA MASERAY, SILLAH KAMARA and others, writes; “MED K’s wife has emotionally questioned me on the existence of her husband, I was unable to give her a definitive answer due to the fact that I have not yet been able to see him.”
His letter informed the Attorney General and Minister of Justice that the state of affairs of his clients and the concerns of their relatives regarding their arrests and safety in detention.
It noted that the Justice Minister as the principal legal adviser of the country read his letter and have instructed the Inspector General of Police of the Sierra Leone to allow legal practitioners access to their clients as enshrined in Section 17 (2) (a-b) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone.
Lawyer Dumbuya writes that the Inspector General of Police of the Sierra Leone continues to deny legal practitioners access to their clients, who have been detained by the State.
The letter continues: “This is unprecedented in the history of legal representation in Sierra Leone for the Inspector General of Police of the Sierra Leone to deny legal access to detained clients.”
“I have only been allowed to see few of the prisoners at the Criminal Investigations Department,” he writes for the records, and adds that since the suspects were arrested and detained, the bulk of them have neither had access to their lawyers and lawyers, nor do their lawyers or relatives know their current place and state of detention.”
The seasoned lawyer’s letter to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice: “Please note that such a stance by the Sierra Leone Police is unprecedented and this is the first time in the history of Sierra Leone that legal practitioners are denied access to their clients by the Inspector General of Police of the Sierra Leone Police.”
Lawyer Dumbuya’s letter therefore requests in the interest of justice and preservation of the law, as legal adviser to of Sierra Leone, that you continue to uphold the Constitution without fear or favour and that you should not entertain any step to whittle it down.
The letter implored the AGMJ to instruct the Inspector General of Police of the Sierra Leone Police in writing to grant legal practitioners access to clients held in police custody at Benghazi, Special Court for Sierra Leone cell and Sierra Leone Correctional Services at Pademba Road.
However efforts are reaching the Police media for their side of the issue proved futile, as the Police chief couldn’t be reached nor any of his Public Relations personnel.
