A resident of Calaba Town, Kawusu Jabbie, has been arrested and is facing trial at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown for allegedly constructing a house without a building permit or approved structural plan. According to the charge sheet, Jabbie began building his house on June 4, 2026, off Wilkinson Road in Freetown. The charges against him include unauthorized construction, unauthorized development in an environmentally sensitive area, failure to comply with a stop-work order, and tampering with approved infrastructure under the National Country Planning Act, 2025.
The allegations against Jabbie state that he changed the use of a drainage area without planning permission and developed in a wetland, floodplain or conservation area without environmental clearance. Additionally, he is accused of continuing construction after being served with a stop-work order and interfering with approved infrastructure, including roads and drainage systems. The prosecution presented Mohamed Sama Banya, Deputy Director of Country Planning at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, as its second witness during the latest hearing.
According to Banya, his responsibilities include regulating and controlling development across Sierra Leone, overseeing the Operations Department, planning communities and settlements, ensuring compliance with planning laws, and facilitating the issuance of building permits. He explained that applicants for building permits are required to submit documents, including a survey plan, architectural designs, a National Identification Card, two passport photographs, and environmental clearance where necessary.
Banya testified that a building permit must be issued before construction begins and that environmental clearance is required for developments in environmentally sensitive areas. He stated that the Ministry received a complaint from a neighbour concerning development in the Wilkinson Road area between January 1 and June 4, 2026. A stop-work order was initially issued, but Banya later received information that construction was continuing.
Banya said he subsequently visited the site with other senior officials, where they met Jabbie, the complainant, the Deputy Minister of Lands, and the Deputy Secretary. The Deputy Minister ordered the construction to stop until further notice to allow investigations into the property and the development. However, Banya later received information that construction had continued despite the directive.
The prosecution requested a short adjournment to continue presenting its case. Magistrate John Manso Fornah adjourned the matter to October 15, 2026, for further proceedings, while bail was continued for the accused. The case has garnered attention due to concerns over unauthorized construction and development in environmentally sensitive areas.
The trial of Kawusu Jabbie highlights the efforts of the Sierra Leonean authorities to enforce planning laws and regulations. The case will continue on October 15, 2026, as the prosecution presents more evidence and witnesses.
Key points
- Kawusu Jabbie faces four charges related to unauthorized construction and development off Wilkinson Road in Freetown.
- The accused allegedly began constructing a house without a building permit or approved structural plan on June 4, 2026.
- The trial has been adjourned to October 15, 2026, for further proceedings.
