Prominent legal practitioner Leon Jenkins-Johnston, Esq. has issued a public appeal to members of the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA), urging lawyers across the country to attend the forthcoming Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) scheduled for Thursday, 6th August 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at 85 Wellington Street.
In a statement addressed to fellow legal practitioners, Jenkins-Johnston expressed concern over recent events that have placed the legal profession and the Bar Association under intense public scrutiny. He lamented what he described as the erosion of the profession’s dignity and reputation in recent months.
Addressing recent controversies, he condemned the events that unfolded in Kenema, as well as police interventions at both Brookfields Hotel and Bintumani Hotel. While acknowledging concerns that the gathering at Bintumani could have become disorderly, he questioned the absence of an official explanation from the Sierra Leone Police regarding the circumstances that led to the intervention.
According to him, the continued lack of clarity surrounding the police action has left important questions unanswered and has contributed to growing unease within the legal community.
However, Jenkins-Johnston stressed that his primary concern is not to revisit past events but to encourage lawyers to focus on rebuilding and strengthening their professional association.
He described the upcoming EGM as a critical opportunity for members to collectively determine the future direction of the Bar Association. He noted that the meeting will provide lawyers with the chance to review existing Articles of Association and consider reforms aimed at improving governance, accountability, and institutional effectiveness.
The senior lawyer further emphasized that the gathering presents an opportunity to reinforce the independence of the legal profession while ensuring that leadership structures within the Association remain transparent and accountable.
Calling on colleagues to set aside personal differences, affiliations, and past disagreements, he urged members to place the interests of the profession above individual interests and actively participate in shaping the future of the Association.
Jenkins-Johnston concluded by reminding fellow lawyers that the future of the legal profession will be determined by those willing to engage in its affairs, not by those who remain on the sidelines.
The appeal comes at a time when debates surrounding governance, leadership, and the future direction of the Sierra Leone Bar Association continue to dominate discussions within the country’s legal community.