In the Press statement signed by The Exécutive Director, Ibrahim Sorie Dumbuya reads below.
PUBLIC NOTICE
19th June, 2024
UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF LAWYER JOY PRECIOUS BAYOR
It’s reached to the notice of League of Democracy Advocates (LoDA) that the Sierra Leone Police has arrested and detained a female lawyer over a democratic critics that she did under a Presidential Tweet’s Account, an account that contains a tweet information of meeting a questionable and controversial Executive of the Sierra Leone Bar Association; this position is held by many lawyers in the Sierra Leone Bar Association.
LoDA notes with concerns that there are laws recognising And protecting Freedom of Speech which is guaranteed under Chapter Three (3) , Section 25 of the 1991 National Constitution of Sierra Leone.
The organisation also notes that the premise of the arrest and detention is in violation of Lawyer Joy Precious Bayoh’ fundamental human rights guarantees pursuant to section 25 of the 1991 Sierra Leone National Constitution.
LoDA also notes that the Government via the Sierra Leone Police is in contravention of ARTICLE 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states ; No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
LoDA urges the Sierra Leone Police to immediately release Lawyer Bayor unconditionally and thereafter publicly apologise to her.
LoDA is monitoring the situation and will inform the public as to our next step.
Ibrahim Sorie Dumbuya
Executive Director
