By Jane B. Mansaray.
Justice Adrian Fisher, a High Court Judge Sitting in Freetown has re-adjourned the alleged murder case between the State against the former Manager of Skye Bank Sierra Leone Limited, Ikubolaje Nicol to the 9th June 2023.
The adjournment is for ruling into a motion filed by the lead Defense Counsel, Roland Wright for the trial Judge to state a case at the Supreme Court, for interpretation with regard to the application made by the Principal State Counsel, Ahmed James Maxwell (AJM) Bockarie for a trial by Judge alone.
Lawyer Roland Wright`s motion was moved on past Friday 26th May 2023 at the High Court, the same day of which the Judge was to deliver ruling into the lead State Prosecutor application for a trial by Judge alone.
The application by the Principal State Counsel, Ahmed James Maxwell Bockarie for a trial by Judge alone instead of by a Judge and jury was objected to by the Defense Counsel Roland Wright.
The 46 -year old male accused, Ikubolaje Nicol was arrested on the 23rd November, 2022 in Freetown by the police as a suspect on allegation of the murder of Sinnah Kai Kargbo, a 26 – year old female Banker, believed to be his fiancรฉe and employed by same Bank; and both attached to Freetown Head office.
The suspect was after police investigations charged to court on three counts Preliminary Investigation (PI), conducted at Pademba Road Magistrate Court in Freetown.
Mr. Ikubolaje Nicol was later committed without bail for trial at the High Court and since then has been on remand at the maximum Male Correctional Centre, Pademba Road.
The accused made his first appearance at the opening of the May 2023 High Court Criminal session presided by Justice Ansumana Ivan Sesay, a Court of Appeal Judge; and with the leave of the Court, his matter was mentioned by the lead defense counsel Roland Wright.
Upon arraignment at the call- over of a total of 92 criminal cases, Ikubolaje Nicol pleaded not guilty to all three counts charge indictment read and put to him by the Court Registrar.
The three counts charge indictment proffered by the Law Officers from the Law Officers Department include; conspiracy to murder, murder and perverting the course of Justice.
In the particulars of offence, the State alleged that the accused Ikubolaje Nicol on the 15th October, 2022 and on diverse days between that day and the 16th October, 2022 at Leicester Village in Freetown Western Rural Area, conspired with other persons unknown to murder Sinnah Kai Kargbo.
Ikubola Nicol was on the 16th October, 2022 at the above address, alleged to have murdered the twenty- six (26) years old Sinnah Kai Kargbo, who he passed the night with.
On the third count charge, Ikubolaje Nicol on the 17th October, 2022 at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, Pademba Road in Freetown, knowing well the circumstances leading to the death of Sinnah Kai Kargbo did on other days thereafter fabricated evidence with the intent to pervert the course of Justice.
According to the autopsy report prepared by the then Government Consultant Pathologist, Dr. Simeon Owizz Koroma, the now deceased Sinnah Kai Kargbo sustained multiple blunt force fracture/injuries of head, neck and chest, due to severe physical assault (manual strangulation).
