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Sierra Leone’s President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio has appointed Honourable Justice Fatmatta Bintu Alhadi to the Supreme Court, following a recommendation from the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC).
Notably, Justice Alhadi brought over two decades of extensive legal experience to her new role, distinguishing herself in both national and international arenas. She has commendably advanced through the judicial ranks, having previously served as a High Court Judge and a Court of Appeal Judge.
Her educational background is deemed impressive; she was called to the English Bar 24 years ago at the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple and subsequently to the Sierra Leone Bar nearly 22 years ago.
Justice Alhadi holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education and Sociology from the Roehampton Institute of the University of Surrey, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Law from Middlesex University, and a Master of Laws in International Finance and Banking Law from the University of Liverpool.
Before her return to Sierra Leone in 2002, she amassed valuable experience working for the Parole Board of England and Wales, as well as the Criminal Policy Group of the UK Home Office. After returning, Justice Alhadi practiced law at various chambers in Freetown and served as a state prosecutor at the Law Officers’ Department for two years.
Her commitment to justice was further highlighted from 2004 to 2006 when she served as an Independent Prosecutor on contempt offences for the Special Court of Sierra Leone. Justice Alhadi later took on a leadership role at Guaranty Trust Bank (SL) Limited, where she oversaw the Legal, Corporate Affairs, and Human Resources Departments.
Appointed as a High Court Judge in 2015, she was promoted to the Court of Appeal in 2020. Throughout her career, Justice Alhadi has participated in numerous committees within the Sierra Leone Judiciary, including the Rules of Court Committee and the Integrity Management Committee.
In addition to her judicial duties, she has instructed on Professional Ethics and Commercial Law at the Sierra Leone Law School and held positions as Vice-President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association and the female lawyers’ organization L.A.W.Y.E.R.S. (Legal Access Through Women Yearning for Equality, Rights and Social Justice). Justice Alhadi has been a strong advocate for women’s rights and has worked pro bono on various cases.
Her contributions to the legal profession have been recognized with several awards, including an Honorary Fellowship from the International Professional Managers Association of England in May 2021 and a recognition award from the Women’s Forum of Sierra Leone in November 2021 for her impactful role in promoting social justice and the empowerment of women and girls.
Notably, in April 2022, Justice Alhadi was elected to be called to the Bench of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple Inn, making her the first African and first Sierra Leonean to achieve that prestigious recognition.
