reetown, Sierra Leone – March 30, 2026 — The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has officially opened an investigation into Dr. Abu Bakarr Bangura, the former Director of the Sierra Leone Law School, following a formal complaint from the Council of Legal Education alleging widespread misconduct and abuse of office at the nation’s premier legal training institution.
In a press release issued today from Integrity House in Freetown, the ACC confirmed that the probe is already underway.
The Commission has committed to an expedited review, with the aim of concluding the investigation within one month. It has also urged all parties involved to extend full cooperation to facilitate a swift, transparent, and impartial process.
The Council of Legal Education referred Dr. Bangura to the ACC after an emergency meeting uncovered what it described as “extensive irregularities.” The allegations include:
– Unauthorized admissions and the operation of a parallel, unregulated enrollment scheme
– Collection of illicit fees
– Academic malpractice, including systematic grade inflation and passing students who failed examinations
– Financial and administrative breaches, such as unilateral procurement for construction projects, unlawful staff appointments, and securing an unauthorized bank loan
– Violations of the Council of Legal Education Act (1989)
– Separate concerns regarding alleged sexual harassment of students, which the Council had previously referred to a dedicated committee
Dr. Bangura has strongly denied all the allegations, describing the referral to the ACC as a “witch hunt.”
He has addressed his resignation in public statements and video appearances.
The Council has accepted his resignation, which is scheduled to take effect on June 30, 2026.
In the meantime, Dr. Bangura has been placed on immediate leave and barred from performing any official duties at the institution. An independent review of the Law School’s admissions, financial, and procurement processes will run parallel to the ACC investigation.
The Sierra Leone Law School is central to training the country’s future lawyers, judges, and legal professionals. The case is being closely watched as a significant test of accountability and good governance in Sierra Leone’s tertiary education and justice sectors.
The ACC, established in 2000 under the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 (as amended), reiterated its commitment to combating corruption in public institutions and called on the public and stakeholders to allow the process to proceed without interference.
Further developments are expected as the investigation advances.
