By Jane B. Mansaray
The Judiciary of Sierra Leone yesterday opened a book of condolence in honor of a fallen colleague and former Chief Justice, Desmond Edgar Fashole-Luke, who died on 27th February 2021.
The late Desmond Luke was remembered at a special ceremony organized by the Chief Justice, Desmond Babatunde Edwards and the Judiciary of Sierra Leone for his remarkable and dedicated service to the Judiciary and the country as a whole.
Law Officers, family members and friends graced the ceremony held at the main Law Court Building, High Court No.1 on Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown.
Several tributes from Supreme Court Judge Justice Nicolas Brown Mark, Lawyer Mohamed Pa. Momoh Fofana and Lawyer Francis Gabiddon were delivered on the life and time of the late Desmond Luke.
The late man served as Chief Justice of Sierra Leone between March 1998 and May 2002, appointed by former President Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.
He retired and later formed the National Unity Movement (NUM) political party and contested the 1996 Presidential Election under the ticket of NUM.
Prior to his appointment as Chief Justice, Honorable Justice Desmond Luke was a staunch politician who was in the late sixties and early seventies appointed by late President Dr. Siaka Probyn Stevens to serve as Ambassador to West Germany, Minister of Foreign Affairs; a ministerial position which he resigned and again appointed to serve as Minister of Health.
Since the 1st March 2021, the Judiciary flag has been flying at half-mast as a sign of respect to the late man with the book of condolence remaining open until the final interment on Friday, 26th March 2021.
