The Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) has expressed serious concerns over a recent press statement issued by Augustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah and Wara Serry-Kamal, which announced the convening of an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on July 10, 2024.
In a general notice dated May 28, 2024, the SLBA addressed irregularities in the notice of requisition. The Association reiterated these concerns in a recent statement, emphasizing the legitimacy of the current leadership and the invalidity of the announced EGM.
“The members of the new Executive (Directors) were duly elected to manage and administer the affairs of the SLBA at the Conference and Annual General Meeting held on May 17-18, 2024, in Kenema,” the SLBA affirmed. This election was pursuant to rulings by Hon. Justice Momoh-Jah Stevens and Hon. Justice Unisa Kamara.
On May 20, 2024, the newly elected Directors filed a resolution for the change of Directors with the Corporate Affairs Directorate, which has been approved. Additionally, a resolution for the change of signatories to the SLBA account at Skye Bank Limited has been filed.
The SLBA criticized the notice of requisition dated May 27, 2024, as “incorrectly addressed to the Board of Directors led by Eddinia Michaela Swallow and lacking legal effect.”
The Corporate Affairs Directorate confirmed the legitimacy of the new Directors in a letter dated June 11, 2024, stating, “There was an AGM of the SLBA and new Directors were elected. A notice of same has been lodged and registered with the Directorate.”
Furthermore, the SLBA noted, “No Notice of Requisition pursuant to section 187(2) of the Companies Act 2009 (as amended) for an Extraordinary General Meeting has been addressed to the elected Directors led by Tuma Adama Jabbi.”
In line with section 187(1) of the Companies Act 2009 (as amended), the current Board of Directors, led by Tuma Adama Jabbi, will convene an EGM, and a notice will be published for the general membership.
The SLBA denounced the press statement by Marrah and Serry-Kamal as “unlawful, misleading, disruptive, and should be disregarded by the SLBA general membership and the general public.
“The Association strongly advised Marrah and Serry-Kamal to “desist from promoting any unlawful and disruptive action which will bring the SLBA into disrepute,” they noted.
