Judiciary of Sierra Leone Communications, House of Parliament, Tower Hill, Freetown, 23rd May, 2025:* Members of the Sierra Leone Parliament have vetted and unanimously approved seven nominees as Judges of the High Court and cleared three other Judges for promotion to the Court of Appeal.
The Parliamentary approvals were preceded by their appointment by His Excellency President Brig. Rtd. Dr. Julius Maada Bio on the 30th of April, 2025, following the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission.
The five Magistrates: Marke Ngegba, Isata S. Sellu-Tucker, Josephine F. Hinga, Santigie Ibrahim S. Bangura, Sahr Elogima Kekura have served as magistrates for several years while Ms. Khalla Diana Kamara and Andrew Samuel Curtis Johnson have been in the corporate world for many years.
The newly promoted Judges to the Court of Appeal: Hon. Justices Alfred Tommy Ganda, Dr. Justice Abou Bhakarr Binneh-Kamara and Justice Aiah Simeon Allieu have unblemished track records spanning over fifteen years as they administer justice across the length and breadth of Sierra Leone
Presenting the nominees to members of Parliament, the Leader of Government Business, Honourable Mathew Sahr Nyuma said the Committee on Appointments and Public Service in the House of Parliament had vetted the nominees on wide ranging issues including their experience in the law, tax obligations and their respective contributions towards nation building. He stated that their track records in the dispensation of justice and their commitments to the country’s development are unquestionable.
Hon. Nyuma encouraged judges to do their best when delivering justice and to know that their appointment was not based on political favour but in accordance with the constitution.
Contributing to the debate, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara said all the proposed High Court and Court of Appeal Judges are academically and professionally qualified to hold the positions they’re appointed to. He used the occasion to appeal to their consciences to deliver justice without fear or favour. “Justice should not only be enjoyed by the rich, but should also be made accessible and equally enjoyed by the less privileged,” he said.
The Acting Leader of the main Opposition All Peoples Congress Party, Honourable Aaron Aruna Koroma, said the independence of the judiciary as provided for by the 1991 Constitution cannot be achieved if the institution lacks financial independence. He added that financial independence brings judicial fairness, which is the only panacea in clearing the image of the judiciary. “It’s frustrating that judges in Sierra Leone are using their own personal cars, and some even take motorcycles to go for work,” he said.
He called the attention of the Hon. Chief Justice to utilise the new appointees to address the issues of backlog cases and overcrowding at various correctional centres across the country. The opposition leader lauded the Hon. Chief Justice Komba Kamanda for his adherence to the 30% quota of women representation in his nomination.
Committing the backlog of cases and overcrowding at Correctional Centres across the country, the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas said the judiciary should not be held responsible for the backlog of cases in the absence of stenographers and legal researchers whose principal role is to directly support judges to expeditiously try cases and deliver timely judgement. “It is only in Sierra Leone where judges are also stenographers and legal researchers,” said.
Assuring the Hon. Chief Justice of parliament’s support in ensuring that stenographers and legal researchers are employed, the Speaker maintained that Sierra Leone needs more correctional facilities, which in turn will address the issue of overcrowding
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