Magistrate Solomon Christian Kekurah of the York Magistrate Court on the Freetown Peninsula has reserved ruling on the eligibility of two legal practitioners to represent clients before his court, following a challenge to their credentials.
The issue arose on Friday, January 30, 2026, when Lawyer Mustapha A. Khalil objected to the appearance of Abu Bakarr I. Kamara and Chernor Mohamed Juldeh Bah in a civil matter, arguing that the two practitioners lacked the legal authority to represent a client. Khalil contended that the lawyers were yet to obtain certificates of temporary registration, which he said is a requirement for legal practice before magistrates’ courts.
In his submission, Khalil relied on Section 20, subsection (5)(a) of the Legal Practitioners Act, 2000, which states that the holder of a certificate of temporary registration “shall have a right of audience in any magistrates’ court or District Appeal Court in Sierra Leone in all criminal and civil matters.” He further argued that without such certification, the two practitioners could not be properly referred to as counsel before the court.
Responding to the objection, Lawyer Abu Bakarr I. Kamara cited a High Court judgment delivered by Justice Allan B. Halloway in the matter between Ibrahim Sorie and the General Legal Council. He argued that the ruling established that legal practice begins from the date an individual is called to the Bar. According to Kamara, once a lawyer has been duly called to the Bar, they are entitled to represent clients and appear before magistrates’ courts, irrespective of whether a temporary practicing certificate has been issued.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Magistrate Kekurah reserved ruling on the matter and withdrew the substantive file pending his decision.
The case before the court is a civil dispute between Hannah Dakowa and Mohamed Limba Abu Tarawallie, with the latter facing two counts of trespass. The property at the centre of the dispute is located at Mile 13 along the Freetown Peninsula.
The matter is expected to resume on Friday, February 6, 2026.
