Police Bar SLBA President as AGM Is Postponed
Tensions escalated at the Sierra Leone Bar Association’s (SLBA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) after the incumbent President, Madam Tuma Jabbie, was barred from entering the venue by armed police officers.
Madam Jabbie arrived at the designated venue with a delegation of legal practitioners but was immediately intercepted by security personnel stationed at the entrance.
According to reports, the lead officer on duty, Mohamed Mansaray of the Operations Support Division (OSD) in Aberdeen, informed the President that he was acting under direct orders from high-ranking superiors to deny her access.
The standoff has sparked concerns regarding the governance and internal security of the legal body, leaving attendees and observers to witness the unfolding crisis.
Following the incident, the gathering was officially informed that the AGM has been indefinitely postponed.
The SLBA meeting has been fraught with delays and disagreements. Prior to this escalation, the National Investment Board had issued a controversial order for the association to publish its membership names.
The SLBA swiftly issued a rebuttal, challenging the board's authority.
This friction, combined with a recent court mandate regarding election reforms and payment caveats, ultimately culminated in the total halt of proceedings and the police barricade of the premises.
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