1 Comment 
The Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) has expressed serious concern over what it describes as the judiciary’s continued disregard for Sierra Leone’s laws, particularly its failure to comply with the Right to Access Information Act of 2013.
In a statement issued on Monday, CHRDI said the judiciary’s “repeated failure to respect the laws under which it operates is troubling, to say the least.”
The organisation said it had submitted a formal request on August 21, 2025, seeking information on the 2018 Commissions of Inquiry cases, specifically matters relating to appeals before the Supreme Court.
According to CHRDI, the judiciary failed to respond to the request within the 15 working days mandated by law. Following the lapse of this statutory period, the organisation filed a formal complaint on September 23, 2025, to the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC), as required under the Act.
The rights group further noted that on October 9, 2025, the RAIC directed the judiciary to respond within seven days. However, the judiciary allegedly ignored the directive, failing once again to comply with the law.
“A judiciary that does not respect state institutions and laws poses a serious concern for democracy and the rule of law,” CHRDI stated. “Its refusal to provide information undermines transparency and accountability principles that are essential for good governance.”
The organisation warned that such behavior erodes public trust in the justice system and reflects a “failure of leadership and lack of respect for the rule of law.”
CHRDI called on the judiciary to immediately address the issue, uphold its legal obligations under the Right to Access Information Act 2013, and demonstrate the transparency and accountability expected of a key pillar of governance in Sierra Leone.
They literally run things to the ground in this country