By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Sierra Leoneans, including government officials, civil society organizations, among others, have recently paid tribute to late Dr. Abdulai Osman Conteh, who passed on after a few days’ illness in Freetown.
The deceased, who was from the Susu ethnic group from Rogbere village, Gbinleh Dixon Chiefdom in Kambia District northern Sierra Leone, was born on August 5, 1945. Late Dr. Conteh was married to Radia Labi Conteh, and they had six children.
Dr. Conteh was a Sierra Leonean lawyer and politician who served as a Vice President under the leadership of President Joseph Saidu Momoh.
After he attended the Albert Academy and later Fourah Bay College, the late Dr. Conteh travelled to the UK for further studies. During his life time, he attained a number of educational qualifications, including: Ph.D. in International Law, King’s College, Cambridge in 1974; LLB (Hons), King’s College, Cambridge in 1971; LLM, London University, United Kingdom in 1971; Barrister at Law 1969. Late Dr. Conteh was called to the Bar of England and Wales, 1970, at Lincoln’s Inn, London, United Kingdom; Harold Porter Prize man in Land Law, 1968. After several years outside Sierra Leone, the deceased returned in the early 1970s and worked for the Sierra Leone Law Officers Department. Dr. Conteh later went into private practice and taught law at Fourah Bay College for several years.
Among many of the Sierra Leoneans who paid tribute to late Dr. Conteh was Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai (PhD), one of the bravest human rights lawyers in Sierra Leone.
“Now that the dust has settled and the eulogies have simmered down let me pay tribute to a man I once referred to as my mentor — Abdulai O. Conteh. His mentorship was not just a title but a profound influence that shaped my understanding of the law. This great son of the soil passed away earlier this month, leaving behind a legacy that has impacted the legal community in Sierra Leone. I will not write about his achievements worldwide, as various writers have covered that. Suffice it to say he was a Sierra Leonean legal intellectual, former Vice President, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Parliamentarian, Constitutionalist, Law lecturer, Chief Justice of Belize, Justice of the Court of Appeal of the Cayman Islands, Justice of the Court of Appeal of the Bahamas, an erudite law professor, educator, and Supreme Court Justice. Our relationship was not just professional but personal. I spent much time with him, and worked on several projects over the past four or five years. Our relationship started initially as one young student meeting this gigantic legal and academic countryman in 2005 at the Special Court for Sierra Leone. In fact, on that day, I met with two legends simultaneously. Peter Andersen, a press officer at the Special Court and my benefactor, introduced the legendary Dr Conteh to me. He immediately called me ”Torma” (namesake) since I had the same Abdulai name, although Abdulai was his first name and my surname. Dr Conteh never once called me anything other than Saffa. I often wondered why, but later learned it was in memory of the late CPO Saffa, the former Inspector General of Police who was criticized for his heavy-handedness in law enforcement. Dr. Conteh’s humility was a shining example. He graciously exchanged emails with me, and occasionally shared his landmark rulings when he benched in the Caribbean. I remember writing a critique of his essay on the 1991 Constitution as a rookie law student and emailed it to him. His response was a testament to his approachability and willingness to learn from others. He said, ‘It was just an essay to allow people like you to appreciate the Constitution.’ He was ‘glad you disagree with me and think much needs to be done.’ Even though I hadn’t yet passed constitutional law, this legal giant encouraged me to critique his work, inspiring me with his humility and openness. Dr. Conteh’s willingness to guide and mentor was evident during the Abdallah case. This case, a landmark in Sierra Leone’s legal history, was a testament to Dr Conteh’s commitment to justice and his mentorship. I remember the day we went to his house, and his face lit up when I introduced myself. He remembered our exchanges but not my face. He asked my opinion on the case, and he agreed with me. I emailed him drafts of court papers, and we met many times to discuss my drafts, which he would entirely redraft. His appreciation of the law, especially constitutional law and judicial review, was unparalleled. Ultimately, we won the case, resulting from his guidance and hard work. I went to his house without Prof Abdallah and told him, ‘We won.’ He politely disagreed, saying, ‘You won the case. I only guided you, but you did everything.’ His generosity and support were invaluable, and I will always be grateful for his guidance,” said Dr. Abdulai.
Dr. Abdulai ended with a beautiful statement, “The cotton tree never dies. It withers during the dry season, only to blossom during the rains. Dr. Conteh, my mentor, and friend, your legacy of “the good, the bad, and the ugly” of the law in Sierra Leone lives on.”