The Freetown City Council (FCC) has launched an investigation into the legitimacy of a registration certificate submitted by “The Law Society of Sierra Leone” in connection with a request to rename the organization as “The Lawyers’ Society.”

The FCC Social Service Unit, responsible for registering all not-for-profit organizations within the city, reported discrepancies in the certificate presented by the organization, leading to suspicions of forgery.

According to a formal response from the FCC to the organization, records indicate that “The Law Society of Sierra Leone” has no official registration with the council. The submitted certificate reportedly lacks the proper formatting, security seal, and carries signatures that are believed to be forgeries of the Chief Finance Officer and Chief Administrator.

As part of the investigation, the FCC has requested that “The Law Society of Sierra Leone” provide additional documentation, including an original copy of FCC payment receipts, bank deposit slips, and a copy of their initial registration application. This evidence will assist in verifying the authenticity of their claim and further confirm the alleged irregularities in the documentation submitted.

This development places a spotlight on potential issues within organizational registration processes in Freetown, as FCC officials examine possible vulnerabilities. Once the investigation is completed, the FCC has pledged to communicate the results to “The Law Society of Sierra Leone” along with any required actions to achieve a legitimate registration and official name change to “The Lawyers’ Society.”

Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.