A prominent legal voice has praised the Chief Justice of Sierra Leone for the swift decision to place Court of Appeal Justice Mohamed Momoh Jah-Stevens on administrative leave, calling it a “bold decision” that signals a commitment to breaking the “culture of impunity” within the judiciary.

Basita Michael, a popular lawyer and former President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA), issued a strong statement following the Judiciary’s announcement on Monday.

Justice Jah-Stevens was suspended and referred to the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) over media reports concerning his personal life that threatened the reputation of the Judiciary.

Michael began by suggesting Justice Jah-Stevens should have voluntarily stepped down to protect the dignity of the bench. However, she commended the Chief Justice for acting decisively.

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“I commend the Chief Justice and the judiciary for showing rare courageous leadership by placing Justice Stevens on administrative leave and referring him to the JLSC for investigation,” Michael wrote. “This bold decision signals hope in breaking with the culture of impunity. It also sends a clear message that safeguarding the integrity of the judiciary outweighs personal interests.”

Justice Jah-Stevens is the complainant in a criminal case where his former romantic partner and the mother of his child, 21-year-old law student Edwina Hawa Jamiru, faces charges under the Domestic Violence Act of 2007.

Jamiru is charged with three counts of physical abuse and intimidation, stemming from alleged acts that reportedly occurred on August 27, 2025, in Freetown.

The case gained wider public attention after Jamiru failed to appear in court on September 25, prompting Magistrate Mamakoh Saio Kallon to issue a bench warrant for her arrest.

Following the warrant, Jamiru released a video statement directly challenging the judge. She claimed her court absence was not willful, but a result of Justice Jah-Stevens allegedly preventing her from attending the proceedings.

Jamiru then escalated her allegations against the senior judge, labeling him a “deadbeat father” who refuses to provide adequate financial or emotional support for their baby, despite his judicial position. She accused the judge of having “consistently withheld assistance” and actively attempting to obstruct her efforts to seek justice through the court system.

The legal action filed by the judge is the latest development in a saga that began in late 2024. At that time, Jamiru first circulated a video claiming she had been in a long-term romantic relationship with the judge, became pregnant by him, and was subsequently abandoned.

In the earlier video, Jamiru alleged they were “lovers, boyfriend and girlfriend, and we had been together for years,” only for the judge to later claim he “never loved me and only used me to satisfy his sexual desires.”

Michael urged the JLSC to pursue its investigation into Justice Jah-Stevens with “diligence, transparency, and fairness” to strengthen public confidence in the judicial system.

Beyond the judiciary, the lawyer demanded accountability from the academic sector, urging the University of Sierra Leone to also launch an investigation.

“The University of Sierra Leone must also take similar steps to examine any possible breaches of policies on lecturer-student relationships,” Michael stated, noting that such action would ensure institutions “will not shield individuals from accountability.”

Michael further stressed the need for fairness and support for Miss Jamiru, who is facing an arrest warrant after failing to appear in court.

“Relevant authorities should also ensure that in the matters pending in the courts against the defendant Miss Jamiru, she receives not only a fair trial but also a psychosocial and legal aid support,” Michael concluded. “Only through such bold and uncompromising steps can we begin to restore faith in our justice and educational systems.”