By Abdulaziz Samura
The matter in connection with civil society activist Edmond Abu has generated public debates with some views patronizing with the activist. What members of the public have not come to terms with is the fact that Edmond’s arrest and detention does not have any bearing with the lawsuit regarding Mobile Operators. The two are separate issues. Here is how it all started.
It was on October 3rd 2018 when the Native Consortium and Research Center headed by Edmond Abu carried a circular entitled “Breaking News…ground breaking litigation of 300 Consumers vs Mobile Operators at the High Court before Justice D.B Edwards.” The release went on to shed lights on how the matter involving three hundred 300 Consumers versus Mobile Operators regarding poor network service and higher tariff could be the first of such attempt in the history of Sierra Leone.
“It is no secret that poor subscribers are suffering in silence, the purpose of this ground breaking case is to sanitize the Telecoms Industry so that subscribers will enjoy cheaper tariff and quality service,” the circular continued.
Fast forward to February 14, 2022, another public notice was issued out by Edmond Abu calling on all mobile phone subscribers that “The Native Consortium has sued NATCOM for breach of section 52 and 53 of the Telecoms Act No 9 of 2006 as amended.” This is in relation to what they deemed as delay in fighting for consumers.
The aforementioned entails the genesis of the case in court. The arrest of Edmond Abu and his 21-day remand at the Pademba Road Correctional Service was as a result of Contempt of Court. The two clearly apart. Edmond Abu was sent to prison for what the presiding judge, Justice Adrian Fisher, described as Contempt of Court, citing Edmond’s inciting statements at various radio talk shows and press conferences he organized, pre-empting the outcome of the matter in court and inflaming the public to rise to action if the judgment proved otherwise.
According to law, contempt of court is an act of disrespect and disobedience toward a court and interference with its orderly process. It may address behavior both in the court and outside of it, including public displays of disrespect toward the court or disruptive or that threatens the fair verdict or outcome of a case. This is where Edmond falls prey to the law. This has nothing to do with the matter in court. In fact, the last time, Africell, Orange, Sierratel and NATCOM were fined one hundred million Leones by the court on similar matter. The money was paid directly to Edmond Abu. Nobody clearly knows whether the other members who formed the core of the 300 Customers benefited from the money paid to Edmond.
While the matter awaits final verdict, Edmond was busy holding press conferences and engaging the public via radio and TV talk shows, lambasting Justice Adrian Fisher and lowering the respect of the judiciary in full view of the public. On January 9th2023, a day to the judgment, Edmond was on Radio Democracy, casting aspersions on the outcome of the case. That in itself amounts to Contempt of Court.
With his breach of the law and his intention to garner funds all for himself, it is clear to see how Edmond Abu does not deserve public patronage. We are calling on the Government of Sierra Leone to create a body that will regulate the functions of civil society organizations as it is the case for the press where the Independent Media Commission is serving that role.
