In a public statement announcing its decision to take action in the Supreme Court, the Bar Association said that in accordance with Section 150 of the Constitution, a committee of judges chaired by the Chief Justice – known as the Rules of Court Committee “is the sole authority empowered and authorized in Sierra Leone to make rules relating to the practice and procedure of all Commissions of Inquiry”.
By making up the rules governing the proposed commissions of inquiry themselves, the government, the Bar Association says, has contravened the provision set in the Constitution.
But the Bar Association says that: “it is fully supportive of a fair and independent commission of inquiry, aimed at bringing to account all those involved in corrupt practices”.
The commission of inquiry into allegations of corruption by former ministers and public officials in the Koroma-led APC government is to commence sitting in a next weeks’ time.