By Hassan Osman Kargbo
Sierra Leone has lost one of its most distinguished legal minds and respected political figures with the death of Dr Bu Buakei Jabbi, who passed away earlier today, December 21, 2025. His passing marks the end of a remarkable public life defined by service, intellect, and an enduring commitment to democracy and justice.
Dr Jabbi was a seasoned lawyer, scholar, and politician whose influence cut across party lines and generations. He was the father of the current President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association, Mrs Tuma Adama Gento Kamara, and a mentor to many within the legal and political space.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Dr Jabbi served as one of the ministers in the All People’s Congress government under President Joseph Saidu Momoh. In that role, he worked closely with the then Attorney General, Dr Abdulai Conteh, at a defining moment in the nation’s history. Together, they played key roles in guiding Sierra Leone away from a one party state toward a multiparty democratic system.
Dr Jabbi was a member of the Constitutional Review Committee that transformed the 1978 One Party State Constitution into the 1991 Constitution, which ushered in multiparty democracy on October 1, 1991. His contribution to that process was particularly significant, as he combined deep legal knowledge with academic excellence. Holding a PhD in English alongside his law degrees, he helped ensure that the Constitution was not only legally robust but also clear, precise, and linguistically sound.
After years of national service, Dr Jabbi later returned to Parliament as a member of the Sierra Leone People’s Party during the Fourth Parliament of the Second Republic from 2012 to 2017. Representing the people of Kailahun, he was widely regarded as an elder statesman whose experience enriched parliamentary debate and legislative work.
Beyond his parliamentary role, Dr Jabbi also made lasting contributions to the development of political party democracy in Sierra Leone. In 2010, he filed landmark papers at the Supreme Court that helped build legal jurisprudence around internal party democracy within the SLPP. That legal intervention remains a reference point in discussions on constitutionalism and party governance.
Tributes have continued to pour in from across the political and media landscape. Dr Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, one of Sierra Leone’s most influential politicians and journalists, paid an emotional tribute, thanking Dr Jabbi for his decades of service to the nation.
She praised him for his role as an APC minister who helped steer Sierra Leone from a one party state to a multiparty democracy, and for his intellectual contribution to shaping the 1991 Constitution. She also commended his later service under the SLPP, describing him as a rare figure who placed national interest above party loyalty.
Dr Blyden also shared deeply personal reflections, recalling how Dr Jabbi represented her free of charge during a difficult period in her career as a critical journalist. She recounted how he accompanied her to the Criminal Investigations Department for police questioning, offered guidance, and provided moral support when it mattered most.
She further recalled hosting and mentoring moments at his Freetown residence, where he encouraged her to consider studying law and regularly reviewed her legal articles, especially those related to constitutional matters. She described him as selfless, gracious, and inspiring, vowing to honor his memory.
Messages of condolence have also been directed to his family, the SLPP, and the people of Kailahun. Many have described Dr Jabbi as a true Sierra Leonean statesman whose legacy transcends politics.
As the nation mourns, there is a shared belief that Dr Bu Buakei Jabbi’s soul will rest in perfect peace. His life of service, integrity, and intellectual rigor has left an indelible mark on Sierra Leone’s democratic journey. Sierra Leone grieves today, but remembers with gratitude a man who gave his all to country and people.
