Man Arrested for Illegal Building Construction Off Wilkinson Road in Freetown
Deborah Sorie A Calaba Town resident, Kawusu Jabbie, is facing trial before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown over allegations of unauthorized construction and development.
Jabbie is facing four charges, including unauthorized construction, unauthorized development in an environmentally sensitive area, failure to comply with a stop-work order, and tampering with approved infrastructure under the National Country Planning Act, 2025.
According to the charge sheet, Jabbie allegedly began constructing a house on June 4, 2026, off Wilkinson Road in Freetown, without obtaining a building permit or approved structural plan.
He is also accused of changing the use of a drainage area without planning permission, developing in a wetland, floodplain or conservation area without environmental clearance, and continuing construction after being served with a stop-work order.
The accused is further alleged to have interfered with approved infrastructure, including roads and drainage systems.
During the latest hearing, the prosecution called Mohamed Sama Banya, Deputy Director of Country Planning at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, as its second witness.
Testifying under questioning from ASP Wellington, Banya said his responsibilities include regulating and controlling development across Sierra Leone, overseeing the Operations Department, planning communities and settlements, ensuring compliance with planning laws and facilitating the issuance of building permits.
He told the court that applicants for building permits are required to submit documents including a survey plan, architectural designs, a National Identification Card, two passport photographs and environmental clearance where necessary.
Banya said applications can be submitted online or at the Ministry’s front desk and are processed according to the Ministry’s Standard Operating Procedures.
He explained that a building permit must be issued before construction begins and that environmental clearance is required for developments in environmentally sensitive areas.
The witness said the Ministry received a complaint from a neighbour concerning development in the Wilkinson Road area between January 1 and June 4, 2026.
According to Banya, a stop-work order was initially issued, but he later received information that construction was continuing.
He said he subsequently visited the site with other senior officials, where they met Jabbie, the complainant, the Deputy Minister of Lands and the Deputy Secretary.
Banya testified that the Deputy Minister ordered the construction to stop until further notice to allow investigations into the property and the development.
He further told the court that he later received information that construction had continued despite the directive.
The prosecution requested a short adjournment to continue presenting its case. Magistrate Fornah adjourned the matter to October 15, 2026, for further proceedings, while bail was continued for the accused.