Sierra Leone’s Legal Aid Board (LAB) played a central role in the September Criminal Call Over at the High Court, providing legal representation for 71 of the 93 accused persons listed.
The session ran from September 16 to 19, 2025, at Court No. 1 on Siaka Stevens Street, first presided over by Chief Justice Komba Kamanda and later by Justice A.T. Ganda, JA.
The cases involved serious charges, including murder, conspiracy to commit migrant smuggling, attempted human trafficking, embezzlement, drug-related offenses, fraud, robbery, and assault. Fourteen defendants had private legal counsel, while eight were absent from court.
Of those represented by LAB, 26 saw their matters concluded during the session. Two were cautioned and discharged, while 24 received custodial sentences. Addressing the discharged defendants, LAB Executive Director Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles urged them to avoid future conflict with the law. “Do not get involved in anything that will be of police interest,” she said, encouraging them to reintegrate into their communities as “positive contributors.”
Representation was provided by LAB counsels Cecilia Tucker Esq, Cyril Taylor-Younge Esq, Olu V. Garber Esq, and Bankole C.E. Morgan Esq. Their participation highlighted the Board’s expanding role under the newly enacted Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) 2024, which seeks to strengthen access to justice for vulnerable populations across Sierra Leone.
