By mohamedj.bah@awokonewspapersl.com
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE –Chief Justice, Komba Kamanda, has issued a directive mandating that no court-ordered execution be carried out by the Undersheriff’s Office without the prior written approval of the Supervising Judges.
The directive, aimed at strengthening accountability and transparency within the judiciary, seeks to empower Supervising Judges and enhance the timely delivery of justice across the country.
This new policy was formally communicated through an official memorandum from the Deputy Master and Registrar, Mrs. Huliamatu F. Christian-Moses, addressed to the Undersheriff and all court bailiffs. It states that any approval for an execution must bear the signature of the relevant Supervising Judge.
Chief Justice Kamanda emphasized that the measure is intended to reform execution procedures, restore public trust, and eliminate exploitative practices within the justice system.
“This initiative will help generate much-needed revenue for the government, eliminate unreasonable fees imposed on litigants, and prevent the abuse of court execution orders,” he said. “With such supervision, the execution of court orders—previously a major challenge—will be brought under effective control.”
The directive includes several key provisions:
- No execution shall be conducted by the Undersheriff’s Office without the written approval of a Supervising Judge.
- No property sales under court orders shall take place without such approval.
- All payments made by litigants for execution processes must be accompanied by an official receipt from the National Revenue Authority (NRA).
- Additional fees paid in the course of execution must also be receipted.
- Failures to execute lawful orders must be immediately reported to the Supervising Judges.
The directive takes immediate effect and is expected to transform the conduct of court-ordered executions nationwide. MJB/8/5/2025
