By Janet A. Sesay
Magistrate Augustine Brima Samura known for presiding over cases at Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 8 in Freetown is a hardworking and dedicated Magistrate working tirelessly dealing with cases that are sent to his court.
Magistrate Augustine Brima Samura is dealing with high profile drug Cases involving allegations of illicit drug possession and manufacturing of chemicals.
Magistrate Samura is also dealing with matters involving theft and larceny.
He has handled numerous theft cases, including sentencing a mason to eight months in prison for stealing building materials and escalating a significant theft case involving a cement factory to the High Court.
Dealing on matters involving properties and family disputes, Magistrate Samura has overseen complex civil matters, such as a case involving thirteen (13) family members clashing in court over the ownership of an estate property and the matter was dealt with swiftly.
The learned Magistrate has also dealt with different cases such as sentencing individuals for riotous conduct in Makeni.
Magistrate Augustine Briama Samura was first assigned at Pademba Road Court No.4 and was transferred to the Kailahun Court where he was sitting on all the three different courts in the district and he was there for a year and a month when he was relocated back Freetown to the Pademba Road Court No.8 on 2nd June, 2025.
On arrival at the Magistrate Court No.8 he received 136 case files all of which he has dealt with speedily, with some being committed to the High Court for further trial, and he has given rulings on others. He is currently dealing with matters that are presently judiciously assigned to him.
Magistrate Samura during proceedings, usually advises, directs and gives guidelines to lawyers when dealing with their matters in open court and in his Chambers. He is renowned for his open-door policy relationship with lawyers whenever they go to inquire about certain complex judicial provisions. He uses his quiet moments to teach and explain these complex provisions as a way of guidance in the prosecution or defense of their matters in court.
However, his only challenge lies with the size of his courtroom, which too small in relation to the number of cases that he deals with. He has only three police officers in his court who assist in maintaining decorum especially when he is are dealing with criminal cases.
For most observers of Sierra Leone’s judiciary, Magistrate Samura is a blessing and to most who have been in conflict with the law and have stood before him, his adjudications are quite in tandem with the law no matter the gravity of his sentencing and or fines.