Counsellor Abrahim B. Sillah Sr., a prominent Liberian legal practitioner affiliated with Heritage Partners and Associates, has been elected Vice President of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), following a victory in a closely watched election held over the weekend. The election took place during an extraordinary assembly of the Liberia National Bar Association at the Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, outtside Monrovia, drawing hundreds of lawyers from across the country. Cllr. Sillah secured a commanding 213 votes, defeating fellow legal practitioner Counselor Lawrence Tomah, who garnered 64 votes.
In his remarks following his induction, Cllr. Sillah expressed appreciation to members of the Bar for the confidence they had reposed in him. He pledged to execute his duties with diligence and integrity, emphasizing a commitment to accountability, collaboration, and collective progress within the legal community. “I remain committed to working with the leadership and all members of the Bar to advance the interests of our institution,” Cllr. Sillah noted, while extending an olive branch to his opponent and urging unity in strengthening the Association. The vice presidential seat became vacant following the resignation of former LNBA President Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah, leading to the elevation of then-Vice President Cllr. F. Juah Lawson to the presidency.
Lawson’s ascendancy created the need for a by-election to fill the position. However, the process was not without controversy. Some members of the Bar raised concerns about the constitutionality of the election, questioning the legitimacy of the extraordinary assembly that led to Sillah’s victory. Former Liberia National Bar Association President, Sylvester Rennie, condemned the process, noting that it violated the laws governing the LNBA. At the opening session of day two of the extraordinary session, Cllr. Rennie, tendered his resignation from the Executive Council of the Bar, noting that the electoral process was outside the law governing the Bar.
Despite these objections, the election proceeded, and organizers as well as a majority of participants described the process as free, fair, and transparent. Observers noted that Sillah’s emergence completes the current leadership structure of the LNBA at a time when calls for unity among legal practitioners are growing louder. Several members, who attended the assembly, underscored the importance of cohesion within the legal fraternity, stressing that unity remains essential for institutional strength and the effective administration of justice in Liberia. With his election now confirmed, attention shifts to how Cllr. Sillah and the LNBA leadership will navigate internal divisions while advancing reforms and promoting the rule of law in the country.
