By BOima JV Boima (MR. JUSTICE)
In a shocking case that has gripped the nation, distinguished Appeals Court Justice Momoh-Jah Stevens is taking a powerful stand against an alleged campaign of blackmail and violence orchestrated by one Edwina Hawa Jamir’s.
New evidence reveals a desperate attempt to extort money from the respected justice, culminating in a physical assault on his home and a subsequent audio recording of the Accuser-Edwina pleading for mercy after the plot failed .
The battle, now unfolding in the High Court of Sierra Leone, exposes a criminal entrapment strategy against a judge renowned for his decades-long fight for human rights and justice.
Justice Momoh-Jah Stevens is no stranger to controversy, having built a career on courage and integrity in the face of political pressure and even threats to his life. A foe of gender-based violence and a diehard supporter of human rights, Stevens has risen through the judicial ranks to the Appeals Court by dispensing equitable justice without fear or favor.
This very reputation for integrity is now the apparent target of a scheme designed to inflict maximum personal and professional damage.
According to sources close to the matter, the heart of the conflict lies in a refused demand for money. After Justice Stevens rebuffed these financial demands, the situation escalated dramatically.
The individual allegedly travelled to his private residence at Kowa Drive, Regent, where she engaged in acts of violence and intimidation.
This resulted in her arrest, and she was held in police detention for eight days. Following her release, in a stunning reversal, she created an audio recording in which she is heard pleading for mercy from the Justice—a clear indication of a failed criminal entrapment that he has wisely chosen to ignore in favor of the legal process .The High Court has now moved decisively to protect the integrity of the proceedings and Justice Stevens’s personal safety.
In a powerful ruling, the Hon. Mr. Justice Augustine K. Musa granted a comprehensive gag order and multiple interlocutory injunctions against the defendant .The court orders explicitly forbid her from: Publishing any details of the court proceedings or making scathing remarks against Justice Stevens on electronic, print, or social media.
Injuring his character, reputation, dignity, or privacy through any means. Approaching or loitering near his private residence, family home, or place of work. The court’s message is unequivocal: disobedience will be met with charges of contempt of court, potentially resulting in imprisonment .This case transcends a personal dispute; it is a defining battle against the tactics of blackmail and intimidation that can be used to attack public figures.
Justice Stevens’s decision to hit back through the full force of the law, rather than engage personally, underscores his unwavering commitment to the justice system he has served his entire life. As the legal process continues, the nation watches a man who has dedicated his life to upholding the rule of law and use that very instrument to defend his own name against an alleged extortion plot. The courts have now provided a formidable shield, allowing the truth to be determined where it belongs—inside a courtroom, free from public manipulation and coercion.
