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The Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) has expressed frustration over the prolonged delay in judgment regarding its public interest litigation against the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education.
According to CHRDI, the case was filed in April 2024 following what it described as the unlawful dissolution of the University of Sierra Leone’s court, an action the organization believes contravenes the Universities Act.
Despite hearings beginning in November 2024, nearly 275 days have passed without a ruling from the presiding judge. CHRDI revealed that its lead lawyer, Leon Blyden Jenkins-Johnston, has made several inquiries about the status of the case but has received no updates, leaving the legal team and the public gripped with “a high sense of hopelessness.”
“Litigating for public interest in this country is challenging and painful,” the organization stated, adding that the delay undermines public trust in the justice system.
The group also pointed to recent remarks by a Supreme Court judge, who criticized the judiciary leadership for its lack of respect for the law. CHRDI questioned how citizens can be expected to place confidence in a system that appears to disregard both the Constitution and laws ratified by Parliament.
CHRDI emphasized that justice is a cornerstone of fairness and equality across all social institutions and warned that the lack of respect for both local and international legal protections reflects a broken criminal justice system.
“The failure to uphold the rule of law not only erodes democratic principles but also threatens the very idea of justice,” the organization concluded.
