By Nasratu Kargbo
The leader of the main opposition APC party in Parliament, Chernor Maju Bah says the dignity of the House and their privileges as MPs have not been respected by the Police.
Bah explained that many MPs have been arrested without reference to the Speaker, and which according to the norms and conventions of the House should happen after consultation with the Speaker. He said the same thing has repeated again with the arrest of MP Emanuel Saidu Conteh of constituency 129, who according to Bah, was arrested without reference to the Speaker. Saidu was arrested over alleged discovery of seven pistols and ammunition inside a truck shipped from the US, and believed to his property, during examination by customs officials at the Port.
Bah said as a House they should “jealously guard that respect”, and observed that when the police have issues within they address them internally, but when it comes to them, their internal mechanisms do not work. He said they should come together devoid of their party differences, for the good of the general House.
The leader of NGC Party, Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella stated that in his three years in parliament he has seen four MPs incarcerated, a reoccurrence that he said was not a mistake and a very serious issue.
According to Yumkella, Standing Order 26 specifically states that any activity of parliament can be interrupted when privileges are endangered. He said:“This is how much the constitutions protects law makers, if we cannot defend ourselves, if we cannot be recognized in legal processes by our own integrity that we are entitled to bail. If MPs can be locked up for three days, ten days etc. How can they defend the right of citizens as guaranteed in the constitution?”
He explained that if the institution, constitution and the Standing Order cannot be protected, then all citizens are in peril. He proposed that they boycott parliament until they get clarity. He said Conteh has been in custody for over a week and called on all MPs to come together and stand up for their values.
Deputy Leader of Government Business ,. Bashiru Silikie said that section 97 of the constitution states that MPs should maintain the dignity and image of Parliament both during sittings and out of Parliament.
Silikie said that their rights must be respected as MPs, but they as MPs should not go against the constitution, stating that “the law is very supreme”.
Leader of Government Business Mathew Nyuma said that he would not want to be part of what he called cheap politics, adding that an MP cannot be arrested for any reason, stating that there must be a cause. He explained that they as a government have been magnanimous, and yet some his colleagues are painting a picture as though some of them were unlawfully arrested.
He said he was part of the team that earlier made attempts for the MP to be released on bail and debunked claims by some of his colleagues that MPs have been arrested several times. “No one is above the law”, he charged.. He noted that the CID has the right to summon MPs because the constitution is supreme.
The heated argument was put to a halt by the Acting Speaker Sengehpoh Solomon Thomas who called on all leaders of the House for a meeting immediately after the session to map out the way forward.
Copyright © Politico Online (14/07/21)
