Freetown, 16 August 2025 — Former Sierra Leonean politician Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray has condemned a recent High Court ruling against him, describing it as “illegal, unconstitutional, and a travesty of justice.”
The case, presided over by Justice A.T. Ganda in the General Civil Division of the High Court, awarded damages of NLe 250,000 to businessman Kobi Walker in a defamation suit. The court also issued a perpetual injunction against Mansaray.
However, Mansaray — who currently resides in the United States — insists he was never served with court papers, never informed of the proceedings, and never represented in court.
“This judgment is not only illegal; it is a travesty of justice,” Mansaray said in a statement. “It violates the very foundation of fair hearing enshrined in our Constitution, in ECOWAS protocols, and in universal human rights law. No one can lawfully be tried in absentia without proper service or representation in a civil matter.”
Mansaray argues that the ruling contravenes Section 23 of Sierra Leone’s 1991 Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair hearing, as well as the principle of *audi alteram partem* — the right to be heard.
“The law is clear,” he stressed. “The plaintiff must serve the defendant personally, and where the defendant is outside the jurisdiction, the plaintiff must seek leave of the court to serve out of jurisdiction. None of this was done.”
He went further to accuse Sierra Leone’s judiciary of being compromised by political and business interests.
“The judiciary in Sierra Leone has become a tool for rogue politicians and unscrupulous businessmen like Kobi Walker to pursue personal vendettas,” he charged. “They use courtrooms not for justice but for silencing opponents and protecting unexplained wealth derived from exploiting Sierra Leone’s natural resources.”
Mansaray said the ruling sends “a dangerous message” about the state of justice in the country.
“This so-called judgment is a stain on Sierra Leone’s justice system. It tells the world that our courts can be hijacked to destroy individuals without giving them a chance to defend themselves. It is against our Constitution, against African and ECOWAS law, and against basic humanity.”
The Sierra Leone Judiciary has not yet responded publicly to Mansaray’s claims.
