Deputy Speaker Exposes Army Chief’s Aggression Over Services Secondary School Land
By Kelvin Jay
Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Tawa Conteh, who also served as Acting Speaker, has strongly condemned the actions of Lieutenant General Amara Idara Bangura, accusing him of aggressively attempting to seize land belonging to Services Secondary School in Juba, located in the west end of Freetown.
Hon.Conteh disclosed that he received a report indicating that the Chief of Defence Staff visited the School premises on Monday and threatened to demolish structures that constitute approximately 80% of the school’s land.
“We see that action as an act of aggression. We have contacted the National Security Adviser and reported the matter to the ONS Coordinator, but the CDS remains adamant, insisting that no one can stop him,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker further revealed that he had received information suggesting the Chief of Defence Staff plans to deploy military personnel to the land on Thursday night.
Standing on Standing Order 23, he called the attention of the House to what he described as a disturbing and unlawful development.
Opposition Leader, Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma, has called on Parliament to immediately summon the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) to appear before the House regarding alleged land grabbing on the property of Services Secondary School in Juba.
In response to the call, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, agreed that the issue warranted urgent parliamentary attention.
He directed the Clerk of Parliament to formally write to the CDS, instructing him to suspend any actions aimed at seizing the school’s land or leasing it to any foreign investor.
Emphasizing the public interest in the matter, the Deputy Speaker stated that the issue would be referred to a tripartite parliamentary committee—comprising the Committees on Lands, Education, and Defense—for further investigation.
“I want the Clerk of Parliament to officially write the CDS, restraining him from undertaking any activities relating to the Services Secondary School land until this House concludes its investigation,” he said.
