Several accusing fingers are pointing at the Minister of Lands, Country Planning, and the Environment, Dr. Dennis Sandy, in relation to abuse of office over a land scandal. Although the Minister has since denied these allegations, independent investigations by this journalist points to the fact that the Minister has not been truthful.

The Medicine Store Manager of the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH), Samuel Yillah, is insisting that "the Minister is using his powers to unlawfully seize a land that legally belongs to me".

Minister of Lands, Country Planning, and the Environment, Dr. Dennis Sandy

According to Mr. Yillah, who recently stormed the Awareness Times Newspaper to register his frustration on what he considers as a violation of his human rights, he informed that "I have submitted a formal complaint to the Ombudsman in relation to this issue".

Samuel Yillah said it all started in August 2009, when a row broke out between him and one Lansana Kamara, who is believed to be a relative of the Minister, over a piece of land situated in the east end of Freetown.

"I was summoned to the Lands Ministry on three instances by the Minister himself" he explained, adding: "I was subjected to all forms of humiliation and intimidation on all three occasions".

He furthered that it reached a point when he was invited to the Congo Cross Police Division on the alleged instructions of the Minister, adding that the matter was later handed over to the Division’s LUC to investigate and submit the findings to the Ministry.

"With no knowledge of the outcome of the police investigation, a group of thick muscled men stormed the piece of land on the alleged instruction of the Minister, and demolished my house" he explained, adding that his entire family has since remained homeless.

Minister Denis Sandy denied the allegations when contacted at his Youyi Building office, and insisted that the land in question is a "state land" that does not belong to Mr. Yillah but to the state.

According to him, all the documents presented by Mr. Yillah for the said land are falsified documents signed by corrupt individuals within the Ministry.

Whilst confirming that he had earlier referred the matter to the Congo Cross Police Division for investigation, he alleged that the police was yet to submit it findings to the Ministry. "Until I receive the police findings, the said land remains a state land," the Minister insisted.

Contrary to what the Minister said, the Local Unit Commander (LUC) of the Congo Cross Police Division, Superintendent Mohamed Jobe said his Division has since concluded it investigation and submitted it findings to the Ministry.

"The submitted report indicates that the said piece of land legally belongs to Mr. Yillah" the police LUC exposed.

During the course of the investigation, LUC Jobe continued, the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Sanah Marrah, who signed and stamped the documents presented by Mr. Yillah with a government stamp, was contacted.

"Mr. Marrah confirmed to the police that the said land is the legitimate property of Mr. Yillah" LUC Jobe explained.

"The police have closed its file on this matter and have made the report available to the Ministry since. It is now left with the Ministry to make their decision on that land" said LUC Jobe, whilst insisting that the decision to demolish the house on the said piece of land was not as a result of the police report.