Former minister and political commentator, Sylvia Blyden, has appeared before the High Court in Freetown over a new civil case filed by the government led by President Julius Maada Bio, bringing the number of court matters between her and the current administration to eight.
According to Dr Blyden, the latest case is not criminal but a civil matter connected to statements relating to the European Union observer report on Sierra Leone’s 2023 general elections. She said the case was filed last month and was heard in court this week.
Dr Blyden told supporters that she represented herself during the court session and that the matter has been adjourned to next week for further hearing. She added that she is now familiar with court proceedings after several legal disputes involving the government in recent years.
The disagreement is said to be linked to comments made about the European Union Election Observation Mission report, which reviewed the conduct of the June 2023 elections. The report raised a number of concerns about the electoral process, which later became a subject of public debate between the government and opposition voices.
Observers say the latest case reflects the continued tension between the government and some political figures following the 2023 elections, with legal action becoming one of the ways disputes are being handled.
