Judgment dated the 3i5t day of May 2019

The Petitioner Osman Jalloh contested and was voted for at the 7th March 2018 General/ Parliamentary as a Candidate of the All People's Congress. The Petitioner states that the election was held on the 7th March 2018 and where the said Osman Jalloh of the All Peoples Congress and Hon. Mohamed Sheriff Rahman Coker of the Sierra Leone People's Party and the Returning Offi cer, National

Elect oral Commission returned Mohamed Sheriff Rahman Coker as being duly elected as Member of Parliament for Constituency 131 Western Area Rural.

The Petitioner herein says in this Petition dated the 23r d day of April 2018 that he is a registered voter with voter nomination number 2732011. The Petitioner says further that the election was froth with violence and intimidation by Mohamed Sheriff Rahman Coker. The Petitioner again says that the electoral management put in place by the 2nd and 3rd Respondents for the conduct of the said election was complex and had many shortfalls depriving him i.e. of a free and fair election .

In the Particulars of the said Petition, the Petitioner aver that the 2nd and 3rd Respondent committed massive and systematic irregularities coupled  with  high  level  of  intimidation,  that  the polling  staff  of  the All People's congress were excluded by the 2nd and 3rd Respondents during the counting process and the pt Respondent led violence and intimidation  at the  SOS Village  Polling Station

The Petitioner herein prays as follows:

1-That it might be determined that Hon. Mohamed Sheriff Rahman Coker was not duly elected or returned

1. That the election of the 7th  March 2018 be declared as null and

void

1. An injunction restraining all statutory and other aut horit ies and/or officials from endorsing and /or recognising the said Hon. Mohamed Sheriff Rahman Coker as a member of Parliament until the hearing and determination of this  action

On the 11th day of June 2018, the pt Respondent answered the said Petition and pt Respondent denied all the allegations levied against him by the Petitioner and instead states that the elections were free, fair and transparent and he voted at the Aberdeen Community centre and went home after casting his vote.

On the 6th day of August 2018, by a ruling delivered by t his Honourable  Court  it  was held among other  things that

1. The trial of this Petition shall be by way of Affidavit
2. That the Petitioner shall file and serve Affidavit supporting his case within seven days from the date of this order
3. That the Respondent shall file and serve an Affidavit in opposition with seven days upon receipt of the Petitioner's Affidavit.

Followin g the assignment of this file to me for t rial, notices were served for hearing. This Petition came up for trial on the 3r d May 2019. Counsels for the pt Respondent were present. The pt Respondent was also present. Counsel for the Petitioner was absent . The Petitioner was also absent. I informed the Court that following the ruling of this Court dated the 5th August 2018 pursuant to Order 35 of the Election Petition Rules 2007, this trial shall be by way of Affidavit Evidence. The primary position of the law relating to Affidavit Evidence is that witnesses must deposed to an Affidavit for determination by the Court .

•.

Lead Counsel of the pt Respondent, I Kanu Esq. told this Court that they were not served with any Affidavit and that the matter be thrown  out  of court

1. E. Taylor Esq. Counsel for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Respondents told the Court that they are relying on su b m issi on of law  on this particular

Petit ion.

In view of the prevailing legal circumstance and the failure of the Petitioner herein to file and serve Affidavit, Judgment is ent ered in favour of the pt Respondent. I humbly submit this is the ratio deceden di.

I hereby make the following orders in addition thereto.

1. The Petition herein filed and dated the 23rd day of April 2018 is hereby dismissed
2. The 1st Respondent  Hon. Mohamed  Sh er iff   Rahman  Coker of

the Sierra Leone People ' s Party shall continue to be the Honourable Member of Parliament representing Constituency 131 Western Area Rural

1. No order as to Costs