The High Court of Sierra Leone has ordered the executive of the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) to publish a list of eligible voters and provide audited financial statements ahead of the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), in a ruling aimed at strengthening transparency and constitutional compliance within the legal body.
The ruling was delivered on Thursday, 23rd July 2026, by Justice Mark Ngegba in response to an Originating Summons filed on 10th June 2026 by Ebunoluwa Tengbeh under Sections 185 and 195 of the Companies Act 2009. The application challenged aspects of the administration of the SLBA’s Memorandum and Articles of Association.
The suit named the Sierra Leone Bar Association as the first defendant, alongside seven members of its national executive in their official capacities, including President Tuma Adama Gento-Kamara, Vice President Sidique Tommy, General Secretary Alfred Paul Juwah, Assistant General Secretary Abubakarr Sidique Kamara, Treasurer Sotto Kobba, Assistant Treasurer Yoko Mahiteh Brewah, Public Relations Officer Alfred Kamanda, and Rokel Commercial Bank (SL) Limited as the ninth defendant.
During the proceedings, the plaintiff was represented by A.S. Lansana Esq, while the SLBA executive opposed the application through counsel I.F. Sawaneh Esq.
After hearing submissions from both parties, Justice Ngegba granted a series of orders directed at the association’s leadership.
The court ordered the SLBA executive to publish, no later than 29th July 2026, a comprehensive list of fully paid-up members who settled their registration, subscription, and conference fees and are therefore eligible to participate in the upcoming AGM.
To ensure accuracy and prevent disputes, the court further ruled that eligibility must be verified exclusively through original bank payment slips, with only payments made on or before the original deadline of 29th May 2026 to be recognised.
Justice Ngegba also directed that access to the AGM venue be restricted to members who present verified proof of subscription and conference payments supported by bank slips dated no later than 29th May 2026.
In addition, the court ordered that elections for the association’s executive positions must be conducted strictly in accordance with the provisions of the SLBA’s Memorandum and Articles of Association.
The ruling also addressed concerns over financial accountability by directing the SLBA executive to provide the applicant and the wider membership with the association’s audited financial statements, together with relevant bank statements, covering the period from 1st May 2024 to 1st June 2026. The documents are to be furnished no later than 30th July 2026.
The certified true copy of the order, issued by the Master and Registrar of the High Court, is expected to have significant implications for the conduct of the SLBA’s forthcoming AGM and executive elections.
With the first compliance deadline set for 29th July 2026, attention now turns to whether the SLBA leadership will implement the court’s directives within the stipulated timeframe.
