NEWS BRIEFS ARE REPORTS CULLED FROM OTHER LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND BROUGHT ONLINE FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR READERS. THIS MEDIUM DOES NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THE CONTENTS BELOW

Chiefdom Speaker Abandons Office

Local news reports say the Speaker of Gbo Chiefdom, Bo District had unceremoniously abandoned his Chiefdom. According to reports, on   Friday 10th December 2010 Chief Peter Jibao Kormawa is said to have escaped upon realizing that some Wunde Society members visited his house at Gbaiima Town to remind him about their agreement to be initiated into the society on the 10th December 2010. The Speaker reports say is now refusing to go through the initiation rites.

Mohamed Bangura Blasts Lands Minister

Mohamed Bangura of the People’s Union Movement (PUM) has on Wednesday 15th December 2010 described the action of the newly appointed Minister of Lands and Country Planning Allieu Pat Sowe to order the arrest of four journalists as untimely and uncalled for . Mohamed Bangura is said to have totally condemned the action of Pat Sowe and called on all public officials to always open their doors to journalists when they want to crosscheck stories.

Wray Family Cry Foul

The Wray Family has urged President Koroma’s government to swiftly intervene in the land saga between them and Pa Sahid M Hudrogue of Allen Town. One of the grand children of the late Ina Ethelred Wray, Ms. Albertina Wray Jr is reported as saying that her grandfather sold four acres from his vast land at Allen Town to a Prominent Lebanese businessman Pa Sahid M Hudrogue . According to Albertina, Pa Sahid is said to have embarked on selling the remaining land besides his four acre land to people an allegation the latter has denied. The family is calling on government to intervene in the matter as efforts to retrieve the land from Pa Sahid have proved fruitless.

Religious Leader Sacked for Corrupt Practices

The Board of Trustees of His Healing Helping Hands International Ministries (4HIM) USA, has asked the President of 4HIM Sierra Leone, Pastor Hassan Mansaray to step down immediately following investigation into the financial dealing of the Sierra Leone branch by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC). The President of the 4HIM USA, Steve Hollingsworth is said to have written a letter to Mr. Mansaray noting that he was no longer in charge of the assets or operations of 4HIM Sierra Leone. Mr. Mansaray has been asked to hand over all assets and proper documentation to the Interim Board of Oversight appointed by the Board of Trustees of 4HIM USA.

Education Minister Condemns Immorality

The Minister of Education Dr. Minkailu Bah is reported to have frowned at ultra mundane activities bemoaning the Northern Polytechnic in Makeni. He decried students who should be role models going down so low into immoral acts and has urged the college’s authorities to launch a full scale investigation to weed out those responsible.

68 Rioters Sent to Pademba Road Prisons

Court reports state that Magistrate Johannes Ohisegun Wellington of Court No 1 past Wednesday 15th December 2010 sent 68 accused rioters to the Pademba Road Prisons. The accused are believed to be fans of musical stars Pupa Bajah, LAJ and Kao Denero who plunged Freetown into confusion quite recently. They were sent to prisons on two count charges of riotous conduct and throwing missiles.

Rtd. Captain Strasser, 18 Others to Receive Payment

Security commentators have disclosed that the Ministry of Defence is in a prepared mood to pay backlog entitlements owed to Retired Captain Valentine Strasser and eighteen other ex-soldiers after receiving recommendations from cabinet. The retired captain who was Head of State under the NPRC Military regime is reported to have called for more seriousness on the part of authorities with regards the payment of arrears to soldiers.

Le 500M to Start One Round League

Sport reports indicate that the Chairman of the Local Premier League Board, Mr. Rodney Micheal says he needs Le 500 Million for the 2011 league season. This whooping sum according to Mr. Micheal is an ideal budget which will prevent possible break-offs.

Internal Affairs Minister Assures State Security

The Minister of Internal Affairs Mr. Musa Tarawally is reported to have said in Freetown that he will not sit by seeing musicians or cassette sellers doing their usual business at the detriment of state security. He assured that government has a responsibility to protect the lives and properties of responsible people. Sequel to recent upheavals among musical clans he endorsed an instituted ban on cassette sellers in spite of complaints of associated loss suffered by the latter