Prominent lawyer Yada Hashim Williams has raised serious concerns over what he describes as a long-standing pattern of land grabbing through alleged document forgery in the York area, calling on the government to take decisive action to protect property rights in Sierra Leone.
In a statement, Williams cited the case of George Ekundayo Davies, a lawyer who died on 21 June 1980, but whose name reportedly appeared on a land conveyance dated 16 December 1994, more than a decade after his death. According to Williams, the document was allegedly used to unlawfully seize over forty acres of land at York.
Williams described the document as “patently fraudulent” and claimed it now forms the basis upon which Augusta Pratt, whom he alleged is acting as a front for Reverend David Chambers, took possession of the land. These allegations have not yet been tested in court.
The lawyer further alleged that the York case is not an isolated incident but part of what he described as an entrenched and expanding pattern of criminal land appropriation. He accused Reverend Chambers of using forged legal instruments over several decades to unlawfully acquire hundreds of acres of land across parts of Freetown, adding that individuals associated with him are now allegedly targeting legitimate landowners.
Williams warned that continued inaction could leave property owners vulnerable, stating that land grabbing through forgery undermines public confidence and threatens national stability.
He disclosed that on 27 November 2025, a formal complaint was submitted to the Attorney-General, urging the government to direct the Sierra Leone Police to launch a full, independent, and thorough investigation into the alleged land-grabbing network.
“The government should not stand by while law-abiding citizens are dispossessed of their hard-earned property through calculated fraud,” Williams said, stressing that those responsible whether principals, agents, or collaborators must be identified, prosecuted, and held accountable if the allegations are proven.
He further described land grabbing through forgery as not only a civil and criminal issue but a national security concern, warning that failure to address it decisively could erode property rights and the rule of law.
As of the time of filing this report, no official response has been issued by the Attorney-General’s Office, the Sierra Leone Police, or individuals named in the allegations.
