By Janet A Sesay
The High Court of Sierra Leone, sitting at Guma Building in Freetown and presided over by Hon. Justice Alhaji Mohamed Momoh Jah Stevens, has directed lawyers representing parties in a legal dispute involving the leadership of the Sierra Leone Athletics Association (SLAA) to file written submissions on an application challenging the conduct of the association’s Extraordinary Congress and arrangements for its December 2026 Elective Congress.
During proceedings, counsel for the Plaintiffs/Applicants was directed by the Court to file a written submission in support of the application on or before November 10, 2026, while counsel representing the Defendants/ Respondents was ordered to file a written submission in opposition on or before November 19, 2026.
The matter also came up for consideration of arrangements for the appointment of a national representative to oversee the affairs of the association pending the December elections.
The case was subsequently adjourned to November 10, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. for further proceedings.
The legal action was brought by Martin Momoh Bangura and other applicants against members of the executive of the Sierra Leone Athletics Association, including Dr. Adikali Kaba Sesay, David Brewah, Aiah Bockarie, David Aruna, Lahai Mansaray, Harold T. Leigh-Palmer and the association itself.
In their originating summons, the Plaintiffs Applicants are asking the Court to determine whether the association’s executive acted lawfully in excluding them from participating and voting as delegates at the Extraordinary Congress held in Bo on July 17 and 18, 2026.
They are challenging the interpretation and application of Articles 8.4(a) and 8.4(b) of the association’s 2022 Constitution, arguing that the executive relied exclusively on Article 16 to disenfranchise them.
The applicants further contend that Articles 8.4(a) and 8.4(b) had been applied by previous executives for more than ten years, including during the election of the current executive in April 2022, and should not now be disregarded without an amendment approved by the general membership.
Another issue raised in the application concerns the tenure of the current executive, which the applicants say expired on April 9, 2026, but was extended to October 19, 2026, following a consensus involving World Athletics, the National Sports Authority, the Ministry of Sports and other regulatory bodies.
They are questioning whether the executive has the legal authority to convene and superintend an Elective Congress scheduled for December 2026, despite the expiration of its extended tenure.
The applicants are also challenging a memorandum dated August 13, 2026, which they allege excludes them from participating as delegates in the forthcoming elections.
Additionally, they have raised concerns about the continued role of the association’s Secretary-General while an investigation involving him remains unresolved, as well as whether the association’s constitution has been registered with the appropriate legal authority in Sierra Leone.
Among the reliefs sought, the applicants want the Court to declare the Extraordinary Congress held in Bo on July 17 and 18, 2026, unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.
They are also seeking a declaration that the memorandum scheduling the December 2026 Elective Congress, together with directives allegedly excluding certain clubs from participating, is legally invalid.
The matter is expected to continue as the parties prepare their respective written submissions for consideration by the Court.
The matter was adjourned to the 9th of November 2026 for further proceedings.