By Sallieu S. Kanu
Sierra Leone — November 18, 2025: The Legal Aid Board (LAB) has successfully mediated and resolved a protracted inheritance dispute between the spouse and longtime partner of a deceased man, bringing closure to a six-year stalemate over his estate.
Background of the Dispute
The case involved two women, Marion and Isha (not their real names), who both laid claims to the property of the late Emmanuel Gbeki (also not his real name), who died intestate in 2018. Marion, the surviving spouse, argued that Isha, whom she described as a “side chick,” should not benefit from the estate. Isha countered that she had a nine-year-old son with the deceased and had been in a 21-year relationship with him, insisting her child was entitled to a share.
Unable to resolve the matter privately, Isha filed a complaint with the Ombudsman’s Office, which later referred the case to the Legal Aid Board’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Unit in August 2024.
Proceedings began in September 2024, with both parties presenting documents and witnesses. Property records revealed two conveyances: one for the house where Marion resides and another for a compound with two buildings in Allen Town, from which she collects rent.
After several hearings, witnessed by LAB Executive Director Ms Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles, the ADR team ruled that one of the deceased’s houses be handed over to Isha on behalf of her son, in line with the Devolution of Estates Act 2007.
On October 21, 2025, the Board officially handed over the conveyance and keys to the Allen Town compound to Isha, designating it as her son’s rightful inheritance. Ms Carlton-Hanciles emphasized that rental proceeds should be used for the child’s upkeep and education. She cautioned Isha against selling the property and instructed that it be transferred to her son once he turns 18.
Expressing gratitude, Isha said: “Today I am extremely happy to see this matter come to an end.” She pledged to care for both her son and the property responsibly.
Marion, the spouse, also welcomed the outcome, thanking the Board for its professionalism and fairness, and stating she was content with her share of the estate.
Ms Carlton-Hanciles praised the ADR adjudicators — including Mr Francis Gabiddon, Mr Alhaji Alghassim Sesay, and Sheik Ibrahim Collier Kamara — for their role in resolving the matter. She reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to ensuring access to justice for vulnerable groups, particularly women and children, noting that inheritance disputes highlight the importance of fairness beyond the law.
The emotional handover ceremony at the LAB’s ADR room marked the end of a long-running dispute, underscoring the Board’s role in safeguarding the rights of Sierra Leoneans in matters of justice and inheritance.