Highly respected lawyer Rowland Wright has urged Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, to request a Supreme Court opinion on the tribunal convened by President Bio to investigate suspended Auditor General Lara Taylor-Pearce and her Deputy, Tamba Momoh, over alleged professional misconduct. In his letter, Wright raised serious doubts about the tribunal’s constitutional validity, particularly noting its establishment on November 17, 2021, following Taylor-Pearce’s suspension.
Wright had previously voiced concerns regarding the tribunal’s composition, terms of reference, and overall constitutional legitimacy, which he argued exceeded presidential authority under Sierra Leone’s constitution. Despite filing an urgent application to the Supreme Court on December 20, 2021, seeking clarity on these issues, the matter has yet to be adjudicated, leaving the tribunal’s legal status unresolved.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Wright pointed out that Chief Justice Babatunde Edwards did not assign his application to a Supreme Court panel, preventing a timely ruling on the constitutional questions at hand. Despite subsequent efforts, including a March 16, 2022 application to suspend tribunal proceedings pending Supreme Court review, these issues remain unaddressed.
Meanwhile, the tribunal proceeded with its investigation, culminating in a report submitted to President Bio on June 12, 2024. Despite assurances, Wright and his client have not received a copy of this report, hindering their ability to pursue further legal avenues. Wright emphasized the critical need for procedural correctness and urged Speaker Thomas to consider the constitutional implications before Parliament votes on the tribunal’s findings, warning against setting a precedent that could undermine Sierra Leone’s constitutional integrity.
Concluding his letter with a quote urging righteousness and justice, Wright stressed the importance of upholding legal standards in the country’s governance processes, likening justice to a vehicle needing reliable, properly inflated tires to function effectively.
