Freetown—The Sierra Leone legal community has been rocked by serious allegations made by Edwina Hawa Jamiru, a 19-year-old second-year law student at Fourah Bay College. In a video shared widely on social media, Jamiru accused Justice Momoh Jah Stevens, a senior judge at the Sierra Leone High Court, of engaging in an exploitative romantic relationship with her, resulting in a pregnancy he has allegedly refused to acknowledge.
The young student claims that the relationship spanned several years, beginning when she was a minor.
According to Jamiru, the judge took advantage of his respected position within the judiciary to manipulate her trust.
“I saw him as a responsible man because of his role as a judge,” Jamiru said in the video, adding, “He used me under the guise of love and later abandoned me.”
Jamiru described their relationship as one that started in the heart of Freetown, with frequent meetings at City Hall. She expressed her disillusionment with the judiciary, an institution she once admired as a symbol of justice and integrity.
“When I told him about the pregnancy, he dismissed me, saying he never loved me and only used me,” Jamiru alleged, adding that his response left her questioning the character of someone entrusted with upholding justice.
The allegations have sparked heated debates in legal and social circles, with many calling for an investigation into the claims. Activists and legal analysts have emphasized the importance of addressing such accusations transparently to preserve the judiciary’s credibility.
Justice Stevens has yet to publicly respond to the allegations. Meanwhile, Jamiru’s bold decision to speak out has drawn support from women’s rights groups, who see her story as a call for accountability and systemic change within Sierra Leone’s justice system.
