By Alusine Sesay
Sierra Leone – December 2, 2025: The Lawyers’ Society of Sierra Leone has welcomed the government’s intensified campaign against drug abuse and trafficking, but raised concerns over the legality of new judicial directives issued to combat the epidemic.
On December 1, 2025, the Honourable Chief Justice announced a sweeping Practice Direction aimed at tightening the handling of drug-related cases. The directive includes provisions such as:
- Denial of bail for defendants charged under the National Drugs Control Act, 2008, except under strict conditions in Section 76(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 2024
- Prioritization of speedy trials, with courts permitted to sit on Saturdays
- Mandatory custodial sentences, with convictions under Section 7(a–c) of the Act carrying not less than 30 years in prison
- Exclusive handling of all drug-related cases in the High Court
Lawyers’ Society Response
While acknowledging the urgency of tackling Sierra Leone’s drug crisis, the Lawyers’ Society emphasized that all measures must remain firmly grounded in constitutional guarantees and statutory frameworks.
The Society noted that:
- Practice Directions derive authority from statutory provisions or court rules, but the National Drugs Control Act, 2008 does not explicitly empower the Chief Justice to issue such directives. Section 91 of the Act vests regulatory authority in the Minister of Internal Affairs, requiring regulations to be made by statutory instrument.
- The requirement that all drug-related matters be concluded in the High Court contradicts provisions in the Act that allow for summary trials in certain cases.
- Treating all drug offences as non-bailable undermines proportionality and conflicts with classifications and penalties outlined in the Act.
- Predetermined sentencing lengths risk encroaching on judicial discretion, potentially prejudicing fair trial rights and eroding the presumption of innocence.
Call for Review
The Lawyers’ Society urged the Chief Justice to review and revise the Practice Direction to ensure full alignment with existing legal frameworks. It stressed that the fight against drugs must be waged “through the rule of law, not in opposition to it.”
The Society also called for adequate resources to expedite drug-related trials within constitutional bounds, ensuring timely justice without compromising fairness.
Commitment to Collaboration
Reaffirming its support for national efforts to combat drug abuse, the Lawyers’ Society pledged to partner with the judiciary, law enforcement, and other stakeholders. It highlighted its readiness to contribute expertise, training, and collaborative initiatives to strengthen the rule of law in Sierra Leone’s fight against the drug epidemic.