By Andrew Chokpeleh
Freetown, 12th November 2026- The Council of Legal Education has released the long-awaited results of the Sierra Leone Law School Bar Final Examinations, revealing that only 120 of the 641 candidates who sat the examinations successfully passed, while 306 failed outright.
The results, released after nearly four months of waiting, have reignited concerns about performance standards, administration and the overall state of the country’s premier institution for professional legal training.
Figures obtained by Truth Media indicate that 170 candidates failed one or two modules and will be required to resit those papers, while 45 candidates reportedly did not turn up for the examinations. The Bar Final Examination is the final hurdle for law graduates seeking admission to the legal profession in Sierra Leone, making the results a significant determinant of who proceeds to qualify as a legal practitioner.
The release comes amid lingering concerns over administrative and leadership challenges that have recently rocked the Sierra Leone Law School. The institution has experienced a period of uncertainty following the resignation of former Director Dr. Abubakarr Bangura, after allegations relating to the school’s administration surfaced.
Following his departure, Justice Fatmata Bintu Alhadi was appointed Acting Director but later resigned only months into the role, further fueling concerns about stability within the institution.
Questions have also been raised about delays in the academic calendar. Applicants for the 2026/2027 academic year reportedly waited weeks before the entrance examination was conducted, while the commencement of lectures was similarly delayed. Concerns have additionally emerged over the school’s failure to provide the customary institutional blazers for new students during orientation activities.
Meanwhile, the identity of this year’s overall best-performing candidate remains unknown. Unlike previous years, the Council of Legal Education reportedly communicated results directly to candidates through their registered email addresses rather than publicly announcing the star pupil.
Reports circulating within legal and media circles suggest that former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba, is among those who successfully passed the examinations. Joseph Sannoh, President of the Sierra Leone Bloggers Association, is also reportedly listed among the successful candidates.
Beyond the examination outcomes, the latest developments have intensified calls for greater accountability, transparency and institutional reforms at the Sierra Leone Law School. As the body responsible for training the nation’s future lawyers, the Council of Legal Education is facing increasing public scrutiny over how it intends to address concerns surrounding the institution’s leadership, administration and academic management.
With successful candidates preparing for the next stage of their professional journey, attention is now focused on the Council’s response to the challenges that have clouded the institution and the measures being taken to restore public confidence in Sierra Leone’s legal education system.
