Freetown – The Judiciary of Sierra Leone has dismissed claims of corruption tied to the 2023 Auditor General’s Report, insisting that the allegations are both “false and misleading.”
In a statement released on Thursday, the Judiciary clarified that the Le69,559 referenced in the audit does not represent funds directly handled by the courts but rather fines and service fees collected on their behalf by the National Revenue Authority (NRA).
According to the Judiciary, NRA officers are permanently deployed at court buildings across the country to manage such transactions. Officials said records show that the disputed sum was lodged into the government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund, a fact already confirmed by the NRA to the Auditor General.
The Judiciary further pointed out that during recent hearings of the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament, the discrepancy was traced back to auditors not reviewing supplementary documentation provided by the NRA.
The statement also took aim at certain media outlets, accusing them of spreading unverified claims that undermine public trust. It called on journalists to uphold the Independent Media Code of Practice by fact-checking before publishing sensitive reports.
“The Judiciary remains committed to transparency and accountability,” the release concluded, adding that it welcomes constructive scrutiny in the interest of good governance.
