Lawyers representing, Lawyer Ady Macauley, B&J Partners have called on the Sierra Leone Bar Association to join them in ensuring that the fundamental human rights of their Senior Colleague in Chambers is protected.

The lawyers made this call in a public letter issued today, Thursday 5 October 2022 addressed to the President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association, over the police invitation of Lawyer Ady Macauley..

Read full details of the letter below:

“We have been reliably informed by our Ady Macauley Esq. that the Sierra Leone Police (“SLP”) has invited him to the Central Investigations Department (“CID”) Headquarters in Freetown on 6th October 2022, instant. We cannot verify the reason for his invitation but we have reason to believe that it is connected with his political affiliation. We are of this view because the invitation was sent to him through Mr. Minkailu Mansaray Former Deputy Chairman of the All People’s Congress (APC) Party.

We also have reason to believe that it is not unconnected with the 10th August, 2022 riot in Sierra Leone because rumours abound that he was wanted because he had incited the rioters with his interpretation of Section 26 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone Act No.6 of 1991 and Section 17 of the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1964 on a television debate with other Lawyers, namely; Hon. Hindolo M. Gevao and Ibrahim Tommy Esq.prior to the riots.

However, if the rumours are anything to go by, we believe the invitation of Ady Macauley Esq. amounts to an attack on his fundamental right, namely; the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in the Constitution of Sierra Leone Act No. 6 of 1991 as well as an attack on his profession and all of ours including you.

Meanwhile, we have thought it necessary to bring this issue to your attention because as you know, he was a past executive member of the Sierra Leone Bar Association and has been a member for over fifteen years. We believe that he deserves the protection of the Bar Association like any other member irrespective of his political affiliation.

In the circumstances, we would be obliged if the Bar Association would take an interest in this issue and ensure that the fundamental human rights of our Senior Colleague in Chambers is protected. You can start by joining him tomorrow at the CID headquarters when he attends to the Police invitation at 10 am.

We count on your prompt intervention in this matter.”