Sierra Leone’s Court of Appeal has reversed a judgement initially delivered by the High Court of Sierra Leone in the legal matter between Aiah Fengai & 73 Others v. Octea Limited & Others.
According to a press release dated October 31st, 2025, the decision was unanimously delivered by a three-member panel of Justices of the Court of Appeal led Justice Fynn.
Court of Appeal’s decision says that the High Court had made a mistake in its ruling for asserting that the plaintiffs lacked the legal right (locus standi) to bring the case forward.
This ruling means the long-running case will now return to the High Court for a full trial, giving the affected residents of Kono District a renewed chance to be heard and to seek justice for the alleged harm caused by mining operations in their communities.
Background
The lawsuit was brought by 74 class plaintiffs, along with 14 additional class members and 9 individual plaintiffs, all from Kono District — one of Sierra Leone’s most mineral-rich regions. They had filed multiple writs of summons against Octea Limited and its associated entities, accusing them of a range of serious violations linked to their mining activities.
The residents claimed the companies’ operations led to unlawful loss of property, environmental destruction, economic displacement, and emotional distress. Over time, these separate cases were consolidated into one major lawsuit at the High Court.
However, the High Court dismissed the case earlier, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction — a decision that was widely criticized by civil society organizations and environmental advocates, who saw it as a setback to justice and corporate accountability.
The Court of Appeal’s recent decision now breathes new life into the case, opening the door for a landmark trial that could shape how mining companies operate in Sierra Leone and how communities seek redress for environmental and social harm.
Legal observers and community activists alike are calling the judgment a milestone for environmental justice, underscoring the growing recognition of citizens’ rights to a clean, safe, and sustainable environment.
