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The legal community, the people of Kono District, and Sierra Leone as a whole mourn the passing of Hon. Justice Nyawo Finda Matturi-Jones, Justice of the Appeal Court (Retired).
Hon. Justice Matturi-Jones passed away on Monday, 4 May 2026, at the age of 75. Born on 28 August 1950, she was widely celebrated as a proud daughter of Nimikor Chiefdom in Kono District, Eastern Sierra Leone.
Justice Matturi-Jones occupies a historic place in Kono and national history as the first female graduate lawyer from Kono District and the district’s first female judge. These milestones made her a symbol of progress, ambition, and excellence for generations of young women across Sierra Leone.
Her judicial career spanned decades of public service. She began as a Magistrate before serving extensively as a High Court Judge, including assignments in Kenema, where she earned respect for discipline, fairness, and sound judicial reasoning. Her consistent professionalism saw her elevated to the Court of Appeal, where she served as Justice of Appeal.
In December 2021, President Julius Maada Bio appointed her Chairperson of the Judicial Tribunal established to investigate allegations involving the Auditor-General and Deputy Auditor-General.
She was appointed inaugural Chancellor of the Kono University of Science and Technology, a role that reflected both her stature as a legal luminary and her enduring ties to her home district.
Her contributions extended beyond the courtroom into governance reform, women’s empowerment, and legal development initiatives, including work connected to women’s rights and land governance frameworks.
For the people of Kono District, she was more than a judge. She was a daughter of the soil whose achievements brought distinction to Nimikor Chiefdom and pride to an entire nation.
Hon. Justice Nyawo Finda Matturi-Jones is survived by family, friends and former colleagues whose lives she influenced through her example and service.
