Lands Ministry Prosecutes Freetown Resident Over Waterway Encroachment and Safety Hazards

Lands Ministry Prosecutes Freetown Resident  Over Waterway Encroachment and Safety Hazards

A Calaba Town resident, Kawusu Jabbie, appeared before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 yesterday, facing multiple charges of unauthorized development and serious environmental violations under the National Country Planning Act 2025.

According to court documents, Jabbie is accused of commencing the construction of a house off Wilkinson Road on June 4, 2026, without obtaining a building permit or structural approval. 

Authorities allege that the development encroached on a protected environmental zone, including wetlands and flood-prone areas, and continued despite a formal stop-work order.

Prosecution files further allege that Jabbie altered a drainage area, interfered with existing road infrastructure, and tampered with local drainage systems.

During the proceedings, Prosecutor ASP Wellington called a key witness, Johnny, a director at the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Country Planning. Johnny testified that his ministry received multiple complaints regarding the construction's encroachment on boundaries and a stormwater drainage route.

An inspection team deployed to the site confirmed that Jabbie’s structure sat directly over a crucial storm-water drainage route. Johnny emphasized that while other unauthorized structures exist upstream, the ministry is prioritizing action against the defendant’s property due to the immediate hazards it poses. 

According to the director, the encroachment blocks a previously clear road leading to the Crown Bakery area, significantly hampering emergency response access and exacerbating local flooding risks.

Following the witness's testimony, the defense requested an adjournment to prepare for cross-examination. Magistrate Fornah adjourned the case to August 21, 2026, for further proceedings.

The prosecution reflects a broader, ongoing effort by Sierra Leonean authorities to enforce environmental laws, address hazardous urban development, and protect public infrastructure.