He alleged that about 580 acres of the said land has been leased to M.S. Dayoub for 50 years by Paramount Chief, PC Alhaji Sandy Momoh Fowai and few family members like Amara Conteh, Vandi Saw, Lansana Konneh and Foday Konneh among others whom he said came together and leased the land without his consent as the key family head.
He classed those who signed on behalf of the families as the youngest in the families who do not know much about the bush and that they failed to think about their generations yet to come. He said the majority members of the families do not support the lease agreement which is why they are in court to seek redress.
He disclosed that they have appeared in court three times so far with Dayoub not showing up, the reason why the Magistrate ordered his arrest.
He lamented over the poor agreement noting that the family has been deprived of farmland to do their agricultural and other traditional activities.
A civil society activist, Christopher M. Brima the National Coordinator for Humanist Watch Salone and also Regional Coordinator for Sierra Leone Network on Human Rights, said they received a complaint on the matter and that they are following it closely.
Mauro Dayoub explained to Awoko that he acquired the land in Dama Chiefdom through the Paramount Chief to use for agricultural purpose.
He explained that Paramount Chief Alhaji Sandy Momoh Fowai brought together people he described to him as “land owning families” and other stakeholders in the chiefdom and that they held five meeting at five different locations before they reached agreement for the 50-year lease.
He said since then, he has deployed over 200 laborers to do clearing and that he intends to increase the number to 300.