Freetown – A leading contender for the presidency of the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA), Madam Martina Baindu Egbenda, has urged the current Executive to immediately address apparent inconsistencies between leaked bank payment records and the association’s electronic voter registration data, just days before the Annual General Meeting and leadership elections.
In a strongly worded statement released on Monday, 20 July 2026, Egbenda warned that unresolved questions over membership payments could erode trust in the electoral process and damage the credibility of the country’s premier body of legal practitioners.
According to the aspirant, the SLBA Executive has repeatedly stated through public notices that only lawyers who paid both their annual subscriptions and conference fees into the designated bank account by the 29 May 2026 deadline would qualify to vote or contest positions at the upcoming polls.
“However, the emergence of leaked bank records alongside the published electronic registration figures has created serious concerns that demand urgent and transparent clarification,” Egbenda said.
She called on the leadership to publish a detailed reconciliation of the two sets of data, arguing that any mismatch risks undermining members’ confidence in the fairness of the process.
“The credibility of the Bar Association’s elections depends on openness, fairness and accountability,” Egbenda emphasised. “Every eligible member must be assured that the rules are being applied consistently and without exception.”
Egbenda further stressed that the SLBA, as the foremost professional body for legal practitioners in Sierra Leone, bears a special duty to model the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law, especially during its own internal elections.
Her intervention comes as campaigning for the SLBA leadership positions gathers momentum, with lawyers across the country watching developments closely. The controversy is already generating intense discussion among members and is expected to dominate conversations in the run-up to the AGM and elections.
Egbenda urged the incumbent Executive to respond promptly and comprehensively, saying such action would not only restore confidence but also reinforce the association’s reputation as an institution committed to justice, accountability, and democratic principles.
