Lara Taylor-Pearce and Lawyer Still Await Tribunal Report

By Christian Conteh

Rowland Wright, respected Barrister and Solicitor and Lead Defence Council for Lara Taylor Pierce, suspended Auditor General of Sierra Leone has urged Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, Speaker of Parliament, to seek a Supreme Court opinion on the tribunal established by President Bio to investigate suspended Auditor General Lara Taylor-Pearce and her Deputy, Tamba Momoh, for alleged professional misconduct.

In his letter, Wright raised concerns about the tribunal’s constitutional legitimacy. Following Taylor-Pearce’s suspension, the President set up the tribunal on November 17, 2021. Wright had previously questioned the tribunal’s establishment, composition and terms of reference, arguing that they were beyond the constitutional authority. Despite filing an urgent application to the Supreme Court on December 20, 2021, these concerns have not been addressed, leaving the tribunal’s constitutional validity in doubt.

Wright highlighted that despite the urgent nature of his application, the Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, Justice Babatunde Edwards, did not assign it to a Supreme Court panel. This failure prevented the Supreme Court from ruling on these crucial constitutional questions. Wright filed another application on March 16, 2022, to halt the tribunal’s proceedings until the Supreme Court could resolve these issues. This application also remains unaddressed.

The tribunal continued its investigation without Supreme Court adjudication. Despite assurances, Wright and his client have yet to receive a copy of the tribunal’s report, which was presented to President Bio on June 12, 2024. Without the report, Wright stated they could not pursue further legal action.

Wright urged the Speaker to consider the constitutional implications and seek a Supreme Court opinion before Parliament votes on the tribunal’s report. He warned that proceeding without resolving these issues could set a dangerous constitutional precedent.

He concluded by calling for procedural correctness, quoting, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you,” and emphasizing the need for justice to proceed on “serviceable and properly inflated tyres” in Sierra Leone.