The paramount chief pinpointed that the disputed land belonged to the Conteh family, which he heads. On one hand, the US citizen – Aisha Yeama Conteh claimed the land as her late father – Dr. Hadj M. Conteh’s property which he used as a community clinic. In 2015, the matter was at the magistrates court in Bombali, and later referred by the then magistrate; now high court judge – Alhaji Momojah Stevens, to the local court at Ropollo in Makeni, as part of the ‘Rural Land Rights’, where she defeated Paramount Chief Alhaji Alimamy Sorie Conteh Kathenkeh 11, who was disatisfied with the local court ruling and decided to file an Appeal – this time, at the magistrates court in Bombali
Since then, the two have made more than twenty – five appearances in court, followed by several adjournments. Both produced several documents to justify their claims in court. In his defense, the chief had three witnesses – but one of them (Aisha’s stepmother) declined to testify. He hired the service of about six lawyers, while Aisha had two witnesses and almost two non – punctual lawyers.
The defeated paramount chief could not be reached for his reaction to the judgment. In very jubilant mood, when contacted for her reaction to the Thursday court judgment, the winner, Aisha, expressed gratitude to the court, adding: “I was confident I was going to win because I was fighting a just battle, moreover, with the laid down plans I have to revamp the clinic to a modern status, and to the best interest of the Mabanta community, from where my late father stopped. Aisha said she was disturbed and fatigued by the several adjournments, the unceremonious absence of one of her lawyers and so on and on.
