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Magistrate Solomon Christian Kekurah of the York Magistrate Court on the Freetown Peninsula has reserved ruling on the validity of the professional credentials of two lawyers, Abu Bakarr I. Kamara and Chernor Mohamed Juldeh Bah, in relation to their eligibility to represent clients before the court.
The issue arose during proceedings on Friday, January 30, 2026, following a legal challenge raised by fellow lawyer, Mustapha A. Khalil. Khalil argued that the two practitioners lack the legal authority to represent clients, stating that they have not yet obtained temporary practising certificates.
Citing Section 20, Subsection (5)(a) of the Legal Practitioners Act, 2000, Khalil explained that holders of temporary registration certificates are granted the right of audience in Magistrates’ and District Appeal Courts across Sierra Leone in both civil and criminal matters. He further contended that without such certification, the two individuals should be referred to as lawyers and not as counsel.
Responding to the challenge, Abu Bakarr I. Kamara relied on a judgment delivered by Justice Allan B. Halloway in the matter between Ibrahim Sorie and the General Legal Council. Kamara argued that the judgment established that legal practice begins from the date an individual is called to the Bar.
He maintained that once a lawyer has been called to the Bar, they are legally qualified to represent clients in magistrates’ courts without the need for a temporary practising certificate.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Magistrate Kekurah reserved ruling on the matter and temporarily withdrew the substantive case file connected to the dispute.
The underlying civil matter involves a property dispute between Hannah Dakowa and Mohamed Limba Abu Tarawallie, who is facing two counts of trespass in relation to a property located at Mile 13 along the Freetown Peninsula.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/1KmGD9UGyX/?mibextid=wwXIfr
