Post a comment 
The Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ) has expressed deep concern after Sierra Leone Police officers blocked members of the Sierra Leone Bar Association from holding their Annual General Meeting (AGM) and executive elections on July 31, 2026, at the Freetown International Conference Centre in Aberdeen.
Lawyers who traveled from across the country were turned away at the venue by officers citing “orders from above,” leading to the indefinite postponement of the gathering. According to ILRAJ, no official court order restraining the meeting has been produced.
The incident follows a period of escalating legal and political friction surrounding the Bar Association’s governance. On July 23, 2026, High Court Justice Mark Ngegba ordered the association’s executive to produce audited financial records and publish a verified voter list under the Companies Act, 2009.
That court order came after an application to the National Investment Board regarding delays in holding the AGM and a public dispute between the Attorney General and the Bar’s executive over the postponement of a previously scheduled June 2026 meeting.
- President Julius Maada Bio Addresses UNECA Business Forum, Presents Investment Opportunities in Sierra Leone Transport Sector
- Information Ministry Proposes NLe92m 2026 Budget in Bid to Boost Civic Engagement and Transparency
- Pujehun District Residents Advocate for Nursing School to Combat Healthcare Education Shortage
Internal tensions within the association date back to a May 2024 meeting in Kenema. That election was contested by two of the three presidential candidates due to discrepancies in the voters’ list, sudden agenda changes, and the procedure used to appoint the returning officer. ILRAJ noted that the term of the executive purportedly elected in May 2024 has expired and argued that its mandate has lapsed.
In a public statement, ILRAJ emphasized that the rule of law must apply equally to both the government and the Bar. The rights organization pointed out that Section 26 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone protects freedom of assembly and association, while police actions must be backed by clear legal authority.
ILRAJ called on the Inspector General of Police to publicly clarify the legal grounds for blocking the July 31 meeting. The group also noted that while the Attorney General holds high office, the role carries no statutory authority over the internal governance of the Bar Association. Any legal grievances regarding the Bar’s compliance, ILRAJ stated, must be resolved through the judiciary rather than police intervention.
