Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) presidential candidate Martina Baindu Egbenda has questioned the legality and purpose of the Association’s newly introduced electronic registration system for members ahead of the 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM).
In a statement responding to a notice dated 6 July 2026 on the collection of official receipts and electronic registration of members, Egbenda said the process raises important legal and administrative questions that require clarification from the Association’s Executive.
She acknowledged the Association’s authority to make arrangements for its Annual Conference but argued that such administrative measures should not be extended to matters governed by the Companies Act 2009 (as amended) and the SLBA’s Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Egbenda stressed that the Annual Conference and the Annual General Meeting are separate activities, noting that while the Conference is an event organised by the Executive, the AGM is a statutory meeting where members exercise their rights, receive reports, consider resolutions, and hold the leadership accountable.
She raised concerns over the use of a “unique code” in the electronic registration process, questioning how the codes are generated, the system used to administer them, and the safeguards in place to prevent duplication or unauthorised issuance.
According to Egbenda, these issues are directly linked to the transparency, credibility, and integrity of the Association’s electoral process, particularly as members prepare to participate in the election of officers.
She maintained that eligibility to participate and vote at the AGM is determined by the Association’s governing documents, specifically Article 32 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, which provides that fully paid-up members are entitled to participate in and vote at the meeting.
The presidential candidate argued that official bank records confirming payment of subscriptions remain the primary evidence of eligibility, adding that receipts only serve as confirmation of payment and do not create additional qualifications for members.
She further stated that the Association’s Directors cannot introduce new requirements affecting members’ statutory rights through administrative notices unless such measures are authorised by the governing instruments of the Association.
Egbenda has called on the Executive to clarify that the electronic registration exercise is solely for attendance at the Annual Conference and is not a requirement for participation in the AGM or the election of officers.
She also urged the Association to publish a list of members eligible to participate in the AGM based on the criteria set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association, saying transparency and clarity are necessary to maintain members’ confidence in the process.
