Freetown, 30th March 2026- The Council of Legal Education has formally reported Dr. Abu Bakarr Bangura, Director of the Sierra Leone Law School, to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) following a series of allegations ranging from financial impropriety to academic malpractice.
At an emergency meeting, the Council documented what it described as systemic misconduct, including unauthorized admissions, the collection of illicit fees, and the creation of a parallel, unregulated enrollment scheme. Dr. Bangura is further accused of inflating grades and passing students who had failed examinations, raising serious concerns about academic integrity at the country’s only law school.
Beyond the classroom, the Council cited significant financial and administrative breaches. These include unilateral procurement for construction projects, unlawful staff appointments, and the securing of an unauthorized bank loan against explicit instructions. In addition, allegations of sexual harassment involving students have triggered a separate committee investigation.
Dr. Bangura has dismissed the allegations as “stupid,” insisting he is the target of a campaign orchestrated by the Chief Justice. He claims the Chief Justice has even planned physical attacks against him, allegedly in response to his “progressive ideas and reforms” at the law school.
The embattled director revealed he had already tendered his resignation, giving three months’ notice to end on 30 June 2026, and said he deliberately sent his letter directly to the Chief Justice to avoid media attention.
In an interesting twist, Dr. Bangura levelled his own accusations against members of the Council, alleging corruption and sexual harassment, the very charges now directed at him.
The standoff between the Council of Legal Education and the Law School Director has thrown the institution into crisis, raising questions about governance, accountability, and the credibility of Sierra Leone’s legal education system.
With the matter now before the ACC, the outcome will not only determine Dr. Bangura’s future but could also reshape oversight and integrity standards at one of the country’s most critical professional institutions.
