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The Republic of Sierra Leone is under intense scrutiny at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice after failing to produce crucial police and medical reports in the high-profile case of Satta Lamin Banya v. Republic of Sierra Leone.
Awoko reports that the missing documents, which relate to the alleged gang rape of Banya by seven men in April 2018, were reportedly lost by the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), along with all other reports filed between 2018 and 2019.
The disappearance of this vital evidence has sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about state negligence and the denial of justice for survivors of sexual violence.
During court proceedings on January 30, 2025, lead counsel for the applicant, Abdulmalik Bello, revealed that his client had formally reported the crime to the police, but no investigation was ever conducted. “The applicant took all necessary steps to report the violation she suffered,” Bello stated. “She approached the police, submitted all required documents, including her medical report, yet no action was taken. The state’s failure to secure such crucial evidence further compounds the injustice she has endured.”
It was further reported that Banya was forced to contact the medical doctor who conducted her initial examination after her original medical report went missing. The doctor provided a fresh deposition, confirming the medical evidence of the brutal attack.
The case, filed under ECW/CCJ/APP/51/21, accuses the Sierra Leonean government of violating Banya’s fundamental rights, including her right to access justice, her right to dignity, and her freedom from cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. These rights are enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Maputo Protocol. Bello and his legal team argued that the state’s failure to investigate, prosecute, and punish the perpetrators has denied Banya justice and protection from gender-based discrimination.
“The state is responsible not only for the acts committed by its agents but also for failing to take action against third-party perpetrators,” Bello emphasized. “Their inaction has allowed the perpetrators to escape justice.”
Adding to the controversy, the government of Sierra Leone failed to send any representation to the hearing, leaving critical questions about the case unanswered and further fueling accusations of state indifference and a lack of accountability.
The ECOWAS Court has adjourned proceedings for judgment, with a ruling expected to be announced soon.
