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Legal practitioner Basita Michael has criticised the Sierra Leone Police’s explanation for its role in disrupting the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) Annual General Meeting, arguing that the justification provided after the incident raises serious constitutional and legal concerns.
Her comments follow the events of July 31, 2026, when police officers barricaded the entrance to the Freetown International Conference Centre in Aberdeen, preventing lawyers from accessing the venue for the SLBA’s scheduled AGM and elections. The disruption forced the indefinite postponement of the meeting, which had drawn legal practitioners from across Sierra Leone.
Michael said the police’s later claim that their actions were based on security concerns contradicts statements made by officers at the scene, who reportedly cited “orders from above” and “circumstances beyond their control.” She argued that any restriction on constitutional rights, including freedom of assembly, must be grounded in clear legal authority and communicated transparently at the time of enforcement.
She further questioned why legal justifications appeared to have been developed after the incident, warning that such inconsistencies risk undermining public trust in law enforcement and the rule of law. According to her, if there had been a credible security threat, it should have been clearly articulated and supported by lawful orders at the scene.
The incident has also drawn concern from the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC), which stated that the police had initially been invited only to support the management of the AGM. The Commission noted that the venue was ultimately locked and the meeting halted under circumstances that remain unclear, and has called for further engagement with both the police and SLBA leadership to establish the facts.
The disruption occurred against the backdrop of an ongoing dispute within the SLBA over a voter register, following a High Court order requiring the publication of a verified list of fully paid-up members. Additional tensions arose after Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay intervened ahead of the meeting, citing procedural irregularities, an intervention that was rejected by SLBA President Adama Tuma Gento-Kamara on the grounds of institutional independence.
Michael warned that the incident raises broader concerns about executive authority and the potential use of state institutions in matters involving independent professional bodies, particularly at a time when Parliament is considering the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2025. She cautioned that perceived overreach could weaken confidence in ongoing reform efforts and erode institutional checks and balances.
The police action has attracted widespread reaction within the legal community, including the resignation of SLBA Public Relations Officer Alfred Kamanda, who described the blockade as an abuse of power. Observers have also linked the development to previous controversies surrounding SLBA elections, intensifying debate over governance, legal independence, and the protection of constitutional rights in Sierra Leone.
