Lawyers representing former Member of Parliament Alhaji Musa Tarawally have given Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) National Chairman Jimmy Batilo Songa seven days to withdraw a letter declaring that Tarawally is no longer a member of the party.

In a letter dated September 21, 2026, Jengo, Sam & Partners challenged Songa’s September 17 letter, which alleged that Tarawally held membership in both the SLPP and the Citizens Democratic Party (CDP). The lawyers described the allegation as false and argued that the SLPP chairman had no authority to determine Tarawally’s membership on his own.

According to the lawyers, Tarawally resigned from the CDP in writing on June 15, 2018, before publicly returning to the SLPP during that year’s presidential run-off election. They said he has since been a registered, card-carrying SLPP member in the Grand Chief Patron category, with dues paid through 2028.

The letter also states that Tarawally was accredited as a national delegate and voted at the SLPP’s 2025 National Delegates Conference, where Songa was elected chairman. His lawyers argue that the party’s acceptance of his dues and conference participation recognised his membership.

They cited a September 18 statement attributed to four CDP regional chairmen, who said Tarawally was no longer a member of their party. The regional chairmen also disputed a letter from the CDP secretary-general concerning his membership status, according to the lawyers.

The lawyers contend that any dispute over SLPP membership must follow the party’s disciplinary procedures and be handled through its authorised organs. They said Tarawally had received no complaint, hearing or disciplinary decision before Songa issued his letter.

The firm demanded that Songa withdraw the letter, publish a correction through the channels where it circulated, stop repeating the dual-membership allegation and confirm Tarawally’s status as a Grand Chief Patron and national delegate. It also asked that any future allegation be dealt with through the party’s disciplinary process.

If those demands are not met within seven days, the lawyers said they have instructions to pursue a criminal complaint under the Cyber Security and Crime Act, a civil claim for libel, and complaints to the Political Parties Regulation Commission and SLPP bodies. They also reserved the option of seeking remedies through regional human rights institutions.

The claims of cyber bullying, defamation and breaches of party rules are allegations made by Tarawally’s lawyers; the attached letter does not establish that any court or disciplinary body has ruled on them. Songa’s response was not included in the document. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64702