In a momentous declaration ceremony held at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, Tuma Adama-Gento Jabbi, a prominent legal practitioner and daughter of the renowned constitutional lawyer Dr. Bu-Buakei Jabbi, announced her candidacy for the Presidency of the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA).
The event marked a significant milestone in the upcoming SLBA Presidential Election scheduled for May 18, 2024.
Under the theme “Raise The Bar,” Tuma Adama Jabbi outlined her vision for the SLBA presidency, focusing on the pillars of Standards, Empowerment, and Welfare. Her campaign promises to elevate the standards within the legal profession, empower legal practitioners, and address welfare concerns for members of the Bar.
During her candidacy announcement, Tuma Adama Jabbi emphasized her deep-rooted commitment to the legal profession, drawing inspiration from her father’s legacy and her own fourteen years of experience as a legal practitioner.
She highlighted her contributions to legal education, including the introduction of the Tax/Revenue Law module at Fourah Bay College in 2014, which has impacted hundreds of students.
Central to her vision is the concept of “Standards, Empowerment, and Welfare” (#SEW), which she believes are interconnected and essential for the advancement of the legal profession in Sierra Leone. Tuma Adama Jabbi debunked the myth that pursuing high ethical standards and advancing human rights are mutually exclusive, asserting that the SLBA can simultaneously elevate standards while defending constitutionalism and human rights.
Tuma Adama Jabbi outlined concrete plans to raise standards within the legal profession, including the introduction of clerkships as part of pupillage to provide support for judges and senior magistrates. She also proposed the operationalisation of the Legal Practitioner’s Privileges Committee to recognize deserving senior advocates, thereby fostering respect for the legal profession.
Furthermore, she stressed the importance of empowerment, advocating for continuous legal education (CLE) and scholarship opportunities to capacitate legal practitioners in various areas of law. Tuma Adama Jabbi expressed her commitment to exploring internship opportunities with international bodies to broaden the exposure of SLBA members to international legal practice.
Addressing welfare concerns, Tuma Adama Jabbi acknowledged the need for a permanent Bar Secretariat and pledged to secure suitable land for its construction. She also proposed the establishment of a private pension scheme in collaboration with NASSIT to support retired members of the Bar, emphasising the importance of collective action and solidarity within the legal fraternity.
In conclusion, Tuma Adama-Gento Jabbi humbly appealed for support from SLBA members, promising to build upon the progress made under the outgoing president’s leadership and lead the association towards a future where it serves as a beacon of hope, positive change, and justice for all.
The announcement of Tuma Adama-Gento Jabbi’s candidacy has set the stage for a spirited campaign leading up to the SLBA presidential election, with her vision to ‘Raise The Bar’ resonating among legal practitioners across Sierra Leone.
