IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Misleading Corruption Allegations Emanating From 2023 Auditor General’s Report
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, 22nd August, 2025:* The Judiciary of Sierra Leone Communications and Public Affairs Unit has taken note of misleading reports published by certain media outlets alleging “massive corruption” within the Judiciary, specifically in relation to an audit query concerning sixty-nine thousand, five hundred and fifty nine Leones (Le69,559) in the 2023 Audit Report collected by the National Revenue Authority (NRA) on behalf of the Judiciary.
We wish to categorically state that these claims are false, misinformed, and deliberately sensationalized to mislead the public and discredit the integrity of the Judiciary.
For clarity and public understanding:
-The amount in question relates to Court Fines, Search Fees, fees for services such as Filing of an Affidavit, Affidavit of Service, Ejectment Notice, Issuing of Subpoena, Filing of Consent Judgement and official copies of Court documents among others, which are not collected or handled by the Judiciary.
-In accordance with established financial procedures, staff of the National Revenue Authority (NRA)—not the Judiciary—are stationed at our Court premises across the country and are solely responsible for the collection and banking of all revenue from court fines and services charged by the Court.
Pursuant to the above, the NRA has since clarified that it provided the Auditor General’s office with the relevant bank statements confirming that the said amount was duly paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund or approved banks.
On 14th August, 2025 the Judiciary through the Master and Registrar was summoned by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament to review the findings and recommendations outlined in the 2023 Auditor General’s Report. During the deliberations, the Committee noticed that those bank statements and the NRA’s supporting documents regarding those unaccounted monies did not reflect in the audit findings due to the Auditors’ failure to capture the NRA’s follow-up documentation. Even the NRA’s response to the Judiciary on same to clarify those queries were never captured in the final Auditor General’s Report. Accompanying this press release is the attached NRA’s response in defence of the Judiciary.
Therefore, the Judiciary Communications and Public Affairs Unit finds it deeply regrettable that a few journalists, without verifying the facts as provided in the Independent Media Code of Practice, paragraph 1 of page 12, to report accurately, instead circulated fake and misleading narratives suggesting corruption where none exists.
The Judiciary remains firmly committed to accountability, transparency, and the rule of law. Under the current leadership, the Judiciary operates within a system of checks and balances, and our financial transactions are subject to the same scrutiny and controls as other public institutions.
We call on members of the press to exercise responsible journalism, verify facts before publication, and avoid peddling narratives that undermine public trust in national institutions without cause.
The Judiciary remains open to public scrutiny and welcomes genuine inquiries that seek to uphold transparency and good governance.
For more information, contact the Judiciary Communications or visit our website on www.judiciary.gov.sl or follow us on all our social media platform
