In a delighted mood after the Lambeth County Court threw out the injunction application Jimmy Songa said: “This is a victory for the SLPP UK/I Region and all the committed members of the party. We have a greater task to return the SLPP to governance and the party must not be distracted by personal and selfish interest of few people.”
“I want to thank all committed SLPP members who stood by my executive and the party because they believed in the UK/I constitution and our democratic credentials. I also call on the few members whose case was thrown out to put the interest of the party above petty differences and unite behind the new chairman, Mohamed Yongawo, so that we can collectively focus on returning the SLPP to governance in 2018.”
The former Chairman also explained the various attempts which were made by the applicant to put the party into disrepute: “On 4th March 2016, they applied for ex parte injunction to prevent the handing over ceremony of the party which took place on the 5th March 2016. The court rejected that application and told them they want to hear from the SLPP.”
“On 29th March 2016, they also made another application for injunction to stop the party from conducting an election on the 23rd April 2016. The court rejected that application and scheduled for a hearing on the 5th May 2016”
“We went to court on the 5th May 2016 and during the hearing the presiding judge had to ask Ansu Sillah out of the court after he falsely claimed he was a party to the case. After our lawyer made his submission, the judge then threw their case out of court. The judge ordered the applicant to pay cost within two weeks for wasting the time of the court and its resources.”
It can be recalled that during his recent event in London, Dr Kandeh Yumkella publicly advised his supporters to take Jimmy Songa to court and the former SLPP chairman had this to say: “Let us be very clear that members who always take this party to court is a deliberate ploy to distract the party because they do not have the support amongst the majority of the party membership.”
“When an aspirant who wants to lead the party advised others to go to court rather than calling for internal party dialogue, it shows his political immaturity; his little knowledge on internal party issues; his lack of leadership to unite the party and above all his desperation to lead not by the will of the people but by sowing seeds of discord. Like the Alie Bangura case which paralysed the party, Kandeh encouraged court action to create chaos in this region because it is a strong support base for Rtd. Brig. Bio”
In attendance at the court hearing in support of the party were many SLPP members including former Chairman Tamba Lamina, the newly elected chairman Mohamed Yongawo, newly elected Secretary General, Lansana Keifala and other past and newly elected executive members.
