Freetown, 31 July 2026 — Lawyers gathered for the Sierra Leone Bar Association’s (SLBA) long-delayed Annual General Meeting were ordered to return home on Friday after police blocked access to the Bintumani International Conference Centre (also known as the Freetown International Conference Centre) in Aberdeen and the event was called off.
Assistant Inspector General Sylvester Koroma, Regional Commander of Freetown West, announced that the AGM would not proceed “due to circumstances beyond our control.” The decision followed reports that members of the legal profession arriving at the venue found the entrance barricaded and were denied entry.
The indefinite postponement has prompted sharp criticism from SLBA President Tuma Adama Jabbi (also referred to as Tuma Adama Gento-Kamara), who publicly questioned the police action.
She argued that both the heavy police presence and the suspension of the meeting lacked any known court order authorising such intervention. Legal circles have raised concerns about the basis for the disruption of what is regarded as a statutory gathering of the association.
As of publication, the Sierra Leone Police had issued no public explanation for the barricade or the events leading to the cancellation.
The meeting had been rescheduled for 31 July and 1 August 2026 after an earlier indefinite postponement of the original June dates. It was themed “Trade, Finance & Law: The Legal Profession’s Role in Facilitating Global Economic Integration” and was expected to include elections for new leadership. Only members who had paid conference and annual subscription fees by 29 May 2026 were to be eligible to participate or vote.
The latest disruption occurs against a backdrop of prolonged internal disputes. The original June AGM was postponed amid governance disagreements, prompting intervention requests to the National Investment Board under the Companies Act 2009 and challenges from the association itself.
In late July, the High Court ordered the SLBA executive to publish a complete list of fully paid-up members by 29 July 2026 and to provide audited financial statements and bank records covering May 2024 to June 2026. Access and voting were to be based strictly on verified bank payment slips.
A closely watched contest for the presidency has pitted the incumbent against challengers, including Martina Baindu Egbenda. Public Relations Officer Alfred Kamanda reportedly told media that the restriction on access was carried out on “orders from above” and alleged government interference in the association’s affairs. Rival camps within the Bar have traded accusations over responsibility for the blockade.
The SLBA has previously faced tensions around its 2024 elections in Kenema and later extraordinary meetings, including police involvement at other venues. Members are now seeking clarity on the circumstances of Friday’s cancellation and the association’s next steps. The situation remains fluid.
