By: Emmanuel Mbowa

Freetown, 17th March 2026- A formal court order, issued by Justice Mark Ngegba of the High Court of Sierra Leone (Land and Property Division), has confirmed authorisation for High Court bailiffs to execute a forceful entry and eviction of Sheikh Alieu A. Koroma and Mariatu Allier Koroma (Applicants) from the government quarter situated at W24 Off Spur Road, Wilberforce.

​The Court’s Ruling

​The order, dated January 30, 2026, was granted following an Ex-Parte Notice of Motion and supporting affidavits from the Attorney General, the Ministers of Lands and Works, and Dr. Kona C. Koroma (Respondents). The disputed property, spanning approximately 1.0017 acres (Survey Plan LOA 25104) dated September 2, 2024, includes both the government quarter and the site of an ongoing community health centre project.

​Conflicting Claims and Documentation

​The eviction follows a complex legal battle involving three primary interests: The Number 9-Community: (Represented by Edward Fatorma) claimed a 2019 ministerial grant of two plots of the State Land measuring (Plot 1 – 0.1392 acres and Plot 2 – 0.2007 acres) with registration number (LOA 5868) signed by the Directoor of Surveys and Lands, dated 7th November for the purpose of building a health centre and a school.

However, a March 2025 investigation by the Ministry of Lands (Head of Investigation and Reporting Unit) labeled these documents as “falsified,” noting they were absent from both digital and manual archives.

“The land purportedly granted to both No 9-Community health centre and Blossom preparatory school forms part of the Government quarter compound including its installation for which certain approvals from the Ministry of Works are required,” adding, “No such approval has been found or traced in any of the Ministry’s archives or records.”

​The Koroma Family: The Applicants, former high-ranking officials at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), claimed possession of the government quarter and a plot of land measuring 0.1529 acre based on a 2023 conveyance. They utilised the site for youth vocational training in tailoring and home economics.

However, findings from the Reporting Unit further noted “there is an encroachment on the Property with inscription State Land and Property (W24 Govt. Quarters) sold to Kona Koroma with registration number LOA 25104 by the property with inscriptions State Land Granted to No 9 Community Health Centre (Plot 1) and State Land Granted to Blossom Preparatory School (Plot 2) with registration Number LOA 5868.)”

​Dr. Kona C. Koroma: Former adviser to President Bio – (Represented by Samuel Momoh) – A 2025 conveyance indicates the government sold the 1.0017-acre plot to Kona C. Koroma. The Ministry of Works confirmed that full payment had been made and previously requested the Koromas “Give Up” the premises by July 2025 and “possibly hand in the key to the Permanent Secretary’s office” at the Works Ministry.

Current Status

​The Koroma family was officially evicted on Saturday, March 14, 2026. The move sparked tension within the local community, as the eviction directly impacted the adjacent, uncompleted health centre. Reports indicate that clashes occurred between bailiffs and community members attempting to protect the construction site from damage during the eviction process.

​Despite the execution of the eviction order, legal sources suggest that while a valid conveyance exists for Dr. Kona C. Koroma, the matter remains subject to ongoing scrutiny before the court to determine final land rights. The Koromas however remain confident of possession of the government quarter and a plot of land, while community members believe the Lands Ministry has granted them the pieces of land for community development, despite an official report by the Ministry debunking such claims of possession..