Court of Appeal Reverses High Court Ruling on Bo Land Dispute

The Court of Appeal in Sierra Leone has overturned a High Court decision in a land dispute case in Bo District, restoring the Kaimapo Family's ownership rights to a contested property. The decision was made during the Court of Appeal's sitting in Kenema, where judges also upheld a High Court judgment in a separate murder case. The land dispute concerned property in Bayama Village, Kakua Chiefdom, Bo District.

The appeal challenged a January 30, 2026, judgment of the High Court's Local Appeals Division in Bo, which had ruled in favor of the Kobba Family. The Kaimapo Family appealed on five grounds, citing alleged errors of law, misdirection, procedural irregularities, and the weight of evidence presented before the lower court.

Delivering the unanimous decision, Justice Fatmatta Bintu Alhadi, who presided over the panel, said the appellate court had reviewed the evidence and applicable law before reaching its conclusion. The three-member panel allowed the appeal and nullified the High Court's judgment, reinstating the concurrent decisions of the Local Court and District Appeal Court, which had ruled in favor of the Kaimapo Family.

The Court of Appeal's decision formally recognizes the Kaimapo Family as the lawful owners of the property. In a separate murder appeal involving Abdul Rahman Jalloh and the State, the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court's judgment. The Judiciary of Sierra Leone will publish a detailed account of that decision in a subsequent report.

The Kenema sitting is part of Chief Justice Komba Kamanda's initiative to expand access to justice by taking appellate court proceedings beyond Freetown. This initiative has attracted commendations from stakeholders in Kenema District, including the city's mayor, who praised the Chief Justice's appointment and efforts to bring judicial services closer to communities.

The proceedings mark another effort by the Judiciary to make appellate justice more accessible to people outside the capital. By taking court proceedings to Kenema, the Judiciary aims to reduce the burden on litigants who would otherwise have to travel to Freetown for appellate court proceedings.

The Court of Appeal's decision in the Bo land dispute case demonstrates the court's commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served. The case highlights the importance of access to justice and the need for efficient and effective dispute resolution mechanisms in Sierra Leone.

Key points

• The Court of Appeal's decision restores the Kaimapo Family's ownership rights to the contested property in Bayama Village, Kakua Chiefdom, Bo District.
• The decision is part of Chief Justice Komba Kamanda's initiative to expand access to justice by taking appellate court proceedings beyond Freetown.
• The Court of Appeal upheld a High Court judgment in a separate murder case involving Abdul Rahman Jalloh and the State.