Civil Society Groups Reject Tribunal Report, Call for Fair Process

By Benjamin S Conteh 

A coalition of prominent civil society organizations in Sierra Leone released a strong critique today of the Tribunal report recommending the removal of Auditor-General Lara Taylor-Pearce and former Deputy Auditor-General Tamba Momoh from Audit Service Sierra Leone. The coalition, including Budget Advocacy Network (BAN), 50/50 Women’s Group, Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ), Citizens’ Barray, and Eminent Women Peace Mediators-Sierra Leone (EWPM-SL), condemned the report as biased and procedurally flawed.

Their analysis raised several serious concerns:

• Procedural Deficiencies: The Tribunal, they argue, disregarded principles of natural justice and the rule of law, casting doubt on the fairness of the proceedings.

• Evidentiary Standards: The report lacks clear criteria for evaluating evidence, resulting in conclusions viewed as unsubstantiated and biased.

• Unclear Allegations: The Tribunal, they allege, presented vague accusations against Mrs. Taylor-Pearce and Mr. Momoh without substantiating claims of misconduct.

• Legal Missteps: The Tribunal reportedly misapplied legal standards and overlooked key testimony from credible authorities.

• Selective Evidence: Evidence was allegedly presented selectively, further eroding the credibility of the findings.

The coalition urged Parliament to reject or delay acting on the Tribunal’s recommendations until a complete, unbiased report is provided by the Attorney-General. They also called for a swift Supreme Court hearing on the case filed by Mrs. Taylor-Pearce to ensure a fair and timely process.

“The Tribunal’s findings are unfounded and insufficiently substantiated,” the statement read, adding that the apparent bias “undermines its recommendations and casts a shadow over the entire process.”

Additionally, the organizations called on the Constitutional Review Committee to protect the Auditor-General’s independence, urging any constitutional amendments to strengthen oversight powers rather than dilute them, while clarifying procedures and addressing current gaps.