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In a landmark ruling that sends a strong warning to the legal profession, the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council (GLC) has recommended that lawyer Mohamed Kroma be permanently removed from the Roll of Court and Bar of Sierra Leone after finding him guilty of “unprofessional, dishonourable and unworthy” in his handling of a client’s house purchase transaction.
The decision, signed on 24 November 2025 by Victor Idrissa Lansana Esq., Secretary of the GLC and its Disciplinary Committee, marks the first public ruling from a series of hearings that began four months ago under the chairmanship of Supreme Court Justice, Hon. Justice Bintu Alhadi.
According to the official public notice, Mr Kroma, who was called to the Sierra Leone Bar on 29 October 2010 and signed the Roll of Court on 5 March 2012, received substantial sums of money from his client, Mrs Margaret Morenikeh John, to facilitate the purchase of a house. He neither completed the transaction nor accounted for the funds. Worse, the Committee found that he fraudulently withdrew additional money from the complainant’s bank account without authorisation.
Despite being properly served with the complaint and notice of hearing, Mr Kroma failed to file any affidavit in opposition and did not appear at any of the scheduled hearings. The Committee noted that the very first hearing date had been adjourned at his own request with a promise to attend the next sitting – a promise he never kept.
Having considered all of the above,” the ruling states, “the Committee finds that the Respondent, Mr. Mohammed Kroma… committed acts amounting to unprofessional, dishonourable and unworthy conduct under Section 27(4) and Section 38(1)(iii) of the Legal Practitioners Act No. 15 of 2000 and under Rules 2, 3 and 37 of the Legal Practitioners (Code of Conduct) Rules, 2010.”
The Committee has therefore recommended:
1. That Mohamed Kroma’s name be deleted from the Roll of Court (struck off) with immediate effect, subject only to his statutory right of appeal.
2. That he be ordered to repay Mrs Margaret Morenikeh John the sum of US$36,055.34 (Thirty-Six Thousand and Fifty-Five United States Dollars and Thirty-Four Cents), or such lesser amount as may be finally proved after full accounting, together with 12% interest per annum from the date of loss until full repayment.
The ruling emphasises that the repayment order stands regardless of any appeal Mr Kroma may file against the striking-off recommendation.
The General Legal Council, through its Disciplinary Committee, used the occasion to reiterate its commitment “to restoring the nobility and dignity of the profession without fear or favour.”
The notice reminds all lawyers that any breach of professional ethics will attract the disciplinary measures prescribed by law.
