The Council of Legal Education has referred the Director of the Sierra Leone Law School, Dr. Abu Bakarr Bangura, to the Anti-Corruption Commission over allegations of fraud, unauthorized admissions, academic malpractice, and misconduct.
The move follows an emergency meeting of the Council, which said it had uncovered what it described as “systemic misconduct and abuse of office” in violation of the Council of Legal Education Act, 1989.
In a statement, the Council said it had accepted Bangura’s resignation, effective June 30, 2026, and directed him to proceed on immediate leave pending that date. It also ordered a full independent review of the Law School’s admissions and procurement systems.
The allegations outlined by the Council include claims that Bangura admitted students without approval, collected fees outside official processes, and granted access to virtual classes to individuals not formally enrolled. The Council said this amounted to the creation of an unauthorized parallel admissions system.
It also accused the Director of breaching procurement rules by unilaterally advancing a construction project, including entering into binding contracts without Council authorization. Additional claims include unlawful staff appointments and the alleged manipulation of academic records, such as passing students who failed examinations and permitting others to bypass required assessments.
The Council further alleged that Bangura contracted a loan with a commercial bank on behalf of the institution despite explicit instructions prohibiting such action. Dr. Bangura has also been accused of sexual harassment of students, an allegation which the Council had previously set up a committee to investigate.
Following its deliberations, the Council said it had directed Bangura to provide detailed records of admissions, as well as comprehensive financial and procurement documentation relating to the construction project. Interim leadership is to be appointed to oversee the institution pending the selection of a new Director.
Meanwhile, Bangura earlier today took to social media to respond to the developments, accusing Komba Kamanda of harassment and intimidation.
He alleged that the actions were being carried out in collaboration with members of the Council, including Tuma Gento Jabbie and Floyd Davies, whom he claimed had overstayed their tenure at the Law School.
Bangura further stated that he had already tendered his resignation, effective June 2026, and had only copied the Chief Justice in the correspondence. He accused the Chief Justice of leaking his resignation letter to the public.
The allegations could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate response from the Chief Justice or the Council to the claims.
The referral to the Anti-Corruption Commission signals the possibility of a formal investigation, while the independent review is expected to determine the extent of the alleged irregularities.
The Council said the measures are aimed at restoring accountability and public confidence in Sierra Leone’s legal education system.
