SLBA Rejects Attorney General’s Directives on AGM Postponement

SLBA Rejects Attorney General’s Directives on AGM Postponement

The Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) has formally rejected directives issued by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, concerning the postponement of its Annual General Meeting (AGM). 

In a communication from President Tuma Adama Gento-Kamara, the Association insisted that the Attorney General lacks the legal authority to intervene in its internal governance.

The SLBA acknowledged the constitutional significance of the Attorney General's office but maintained that respect for that office does not equate to compliance with what it deems unlawful directives. The Association further asserted that the Attorney General holds no statutory supervisory powers and argued that the title "Titular Head of the Bar" is merely ceremonial.

Regarding disputes over executive tenure, the SLBA argued that such matters fall under judicial authority rather than executive oversight. The Association cited the Companies Act to clarify that the postponement of its AGM does not violate the requirements set forth in Section 185.

The SLBA emphasized that the High Court is the appropriate forum for resolving any such disputes and warned that the Attorney General’s directives crossed a constitutional boundary, characterizing them as unlawful interference.

In conclusion, the SLBA noted its commitment to holding the AGM within three months and reiterated its insistence that the independence of the Bar remains essential to the rule of law.