Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, Komba Kamanda, Chairman of a five panel of Supreme Court Judges hearing a case between Monica Luke-plaintiff and former Minister of Lands, Denis Sandy and others as defendants, has ordered a halt on an alleged ongoing construction on the alleged land belonging to the late former Chief Justice, Desmond Luke.

The Chief Justice said during the Tuesday March 11, 2025, hearing that it is because the matter is pending under the apex court. “Whatever they are doing is at their own risk,” while addressing the Solicitor General, Robert Kowa, representing the defendant to tell those on the land.

The orders came after Lawyer Sore Sengbe Marrah representing the plaintiff, informed the court that while the matter is before the Supreme Court, there are ongoing “several construction on the land.”

Marrah had earlier told the Supreme Court that the motion was on behalf of first and second plaintiffs for the determination, interpretation and enforcement of the 1991 constitution.

He further told the court that Monica Luke; plaintiff is the administrator of the property of the late Chief Justice.

He said there was an affidavit deposed to on dated January 29, 2024. He cited several exhibits which he said include, a copy of photos of the first school evicted of the second plaintiff’s agent under the authority of the then Minister of Lands, Dennis Sandi.

He also cited copy of letter to the Speaker of parliament by the second plaintiff in February 2023 bringing attention of the parliament of a High Court

Judgment and the action of the defendant by deploying armed men on the land.

He also cited a letter written by lawyer Pa Momoh Fofanah on February 27, 2023, addressed to the Chairman of Lands Committee in parliament, Quinton Sallia Conneh. He said in that letter, Fofanah lamented the action of the defendant for evicting the school of the school and placing armed men on the land.

He further addressed the benches, that Lawyer Fofanah also copied the then Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and that the Directorate of Defence Personnel replied on the next day, February 28, 2023.

The reply was that they acknowledged the letter and that the said deployment of soldiers on the said property was not official and that they disassociate themselves.

Marrah further cited another letter by Fofanah to the

CDS about the continued presence of armed soldiers on the land armed personnel.

The court learnt from him that on January 10, 2024, a letter from the committee on lands at the house of parliament sighed by the Chairman, Conneh replied to the earlier on February 27, 2024 indicating that the second plaintiff had approached the committee.

He also cited another exhibit, letter of offer of lease of state land at Spur Loop off Regent Road and that the offer was given to Mr. P.G. Robert.