By Abdul Razack Gbla

Sierra Leone is in mourning following the death of Honourable Justice Dr. Abou Bakarr Binneh Kamara, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Fourah Bay College and a recently promoted judge of the Court of Appeal.

The Judiciary confirmed his passing on Tuesday 15 July 2025, describing him as “one of the nation’s most brilliant legal minds and a tireless advocate for education.” No cause of death was immediately given.

Dr. Binneh Kamara’s career straddled the bench and the lecture hall. As Dean, he modernised the law curriculum at Fourah Bay College, expanding clinical programmes and scholarship opportunities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. On the bench, he earned a reputation for clarity of thought and an unwavering commitment to due process.

His passion for learning was encapsulated in a favourite declaration often quoted by his students: “I will not rest until the children of the poor and downtrodden are educated.” Former protégés say he backed those words with action, personally funding tuition fees and book allowances long before the college could step in.

Legal practitioners described him as “a jurist of rare intellect whose judgments will shape Sierra Leonean jurisprudence for decades.” His colleagues at the Bar highlighted his scholarly output that influenced both policy and public debate.

Not longago, Dr. Binneh Kamara was elevated to the Court of Appeal, a promotion widely viewed as a prelude to a future appointment to the Supreme Court. “He brought to the appellate bench the same rigour he demanded in the classroom,” said several legal practitioners.

Tributes poured in throughout the day. The Law Students’ Union called him “a father figure who taught us to chase excellence without compromising integrity.”

Funeral arrangements are being coordinated by the Judiciary in consultation with the family.

Sierra Leone has lost a beacon of scholarship and justice, but admirers insist his legacy will endure in the lawyers he trained and the jurisprudence he helped to shape.