The Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) has postponed its Annual General Meeting (AGM) indefinitely after accusing police of preventing members from accessing the venue.
The two-day meeting was scheduled to begin on Friday at the Freetown International Conference Centre in Aberdeen, but the association said it was unable to proceed after police officers blocked access to the AGM hall.
In a statement, the SLBA’s board of directors said the decision to postpone the meeting was taken “regrettably” following what it described as the “unlawful interference” of the Sierra Leone Police.
The association accused police of intervening in its internal affairs without a court order, calling the action “unconstitutional” and an abuse of statutory powers.
“The management of the business of the Association is in their hands as provided for by Article 19 of the Company’s Articles of Association,” the statement said.
The Bar Association said the disruption had caused significant financial losses, estimated conservatively at millions of leones, and apologised to members and invited guests affected by the postponement.
The SLBA also reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rule of law, holding government accountable and protecting the welfare of its members.
The police have not yet publicly responded to the allegations.
The incident has sparked debate among legal professionals and observers over the role of security forces in matters involving independent professional bodies and whether police intervention requires judicial authorisation.
The Bar Association is expected to announce a new date for its AGM at a later time.
