By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)

As the situation unfolds in the legal system, a cross session of members of the Sierra Leone Bar Association have strongly rejected the newly alleged handpicked President of SLBA and her executive due to unverified mock polls in Kenema on Saturday, May 18th, 2024.

In a joint press statement issued by Augustine S. Marrah and Wara Serry-Kamal on Tuesday, 21st May, 2024 at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown has told journalists that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Kenema does not represent the will of fully paid-up members of the Sierra Leone Bar Association and they do not recognize them as duly elected. “We shall explore all lawful means to ensure that an election of directors of the Association consistent with democratic standards is held as soon as possible. We shall also explore all accountability measures against all those who were complicit in the shamed electoral process,” they affirmed.

Speaking during the session, Wara Serry-Kamal Esq, Presidential candidate for SLBA said the so-called election was systemically rigged and there was no election, noting that the purported appointment of Francis Ben Keifala, the Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commissioner, as Returning Officer was highly disputed to his nomination on the ground of conflict of interest; the ACC boss purportedly acting as the Electoral Commissioner undermines the very democratic process they seeks to uphold.

However, in an interview on Radio Democracy, FM 98.1, and Voice of America (VOA), Francis Ben Keifala, the Anti-Corruption Commissioner of Sierra Leone under the incumbent government, addressed the controversies surrounding the recent Sierra Leone Bar Association elections. His discussion sheds significant light on the events that transpired during the elections, his role as ACC Commissioner and his commitment in protecting the democratic rights of members of the Bar Association.

The SLBA elections, is a pivotal event for the legal community, faced unprecedented challenges this year. He described how he proposed changes to the agenda to prioritize the election over other matters, a decision that was subsequently agreed upon by the Bar membership through a vote. He explained that this move was crucial to maintain order and ensure that the election proceeded smoothly and without undue delay. “The members voted in agreement with my proposal, demonstrating the collective will to follow proper procedures,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Augustine S. Marrah Esq, critical Presidential aspirant said the integrity of the voter list was compromised and members who had duly paid their dues found out that their names were omitted from the list, an issue that was raised by some members and yet was not addressed by the directors and voter manipulation was visible and unfortunate for the legal profession. “The amendment of the agenda to commence voting prematurely at exactly 12pm, which in fact the time slated for registration and arrival of members was 12 to 1pm, was a calculated ploy to disenfranchise or debar colleagues who travelled from Bo and Freetown and whose movement was strongly blocked by a truck on the Bo-Kenema highway with impunity,” he confirmed.