Natural justice

Sierra Leone — Supreme Court · 1962

Principle established: Electoral returning officers exceed their jurisdiction by inquiring into the validity of a nominator's consent, and a nominator has no legal power to withdraw an already submitted nomination.

Sierra Leone — Supreme Court · 1962

Principle established: Returning officers lack jurisdiction to investigate the circumstances of a nominator's consent or permit a nominator to withdraw a nomination once submitted.

Sierra Leone — Court of Appeal · 2016

Principle established: The right to cross-examine a deponent on their affidavit is an incidental of the rule of natural justice, allowing parties to test the evidence presented in support of an application.

Sierra Leone — African Law Reports · 1950-56

Principle established: A tribal authority violates natural justice when a chief sits as judge in his own cause, and subjecting a person to complete detention without lawful authority constitutes false imprisonment.

Sierra Leone — Court of Appeal · 1960

Principle established: A disciplinary tribunal lacks jurisdiction to convict a legal practitioner of misconduct based on an accusation completely different from and inconsistent with the formal charge.

Sierra Leone — Court of Appeal · 2026

Principle established: Appellate courts must ensure that the record of proceedings is complete and that all parties are heard in accordance with the principles of natural justice before determining an appeal.

Kenya · 2025

Principle established: Disciplinary proceedings against judicial staff must comply with constitutional requirements for a fair hearing, including the right to confront accusers and the avoidance of inordinate delays.

Sierra Leone — Court of Appeal · 1956

Principle established: A court will not intervene in the disciplinary proceedings of a domestic or ecclesiastical quasi-judicial tribunal until all internal rights of appeal under the body's constitution have been exhausted.

Zimbabwe · 2025

Principle established: Disciplinary proceedings against an employee for public statements undermining the employer's image are subject to judicial review to ensure compliance with the relevant code of conduct and principles of fairness.

Sierra Leone — Court of Appeal · 2022

Principle established: A judgment obtained without proper service of process on a defendant residing outside the jurisdiction violates the principles of natural justice and the right to a fair hearing.

Sierra Leone — Court of Appeal · 2022

Principle established: Commissions of Inquiry must be conducted in accordance with prescribed rules of practice and procedure to ensure fairness and compliance with constitutional requirements.

United Kingdom · 1963

Principle established: Public bodies must observe the rules of natural justice, including the right to a fair hearing, when making decisions that affect an individual's rights or livelihood.

Sierra Leone — Supreme Court · 1962

Principle established: The Electoral Commission acts judicially when hearing appeals regarding nomination papers and violates natural justice by deciding an objection without hearing the affected party or having a prior decision from the Returning Officer.

Sierra Leone — Supreme Court · 1962

Principle established: An electoral commission exercising appellate functions over nomination objections acts judicially and violates natural justice if it determines an objection without affording the affected party a hearing.

Sierra Leone — Court of Appeal · 1962

Principle established: The Electoral Commission exercises a judicial function regarding nomination objections and violates natural justice if it determines the matter without giving the petitioner a hearing.

Malawi · 2024

Principle established: A decision to expel a member from a political party is subject to judicial review if it is alleged that the expulsion occurred without a prior disciplinary hearing.

Ghana · 2024

Principle established: Administrative bodies and officials must act fairly and reasonably, complying with legal requirements, and their decisions are subject to judicial review by the High Court.

Sierra Leone — Court of Appeal · 1961

Principle established: A summary conviction must be set aside where the accused was wrongly denied the opportunity to make submissions to the trial magistrate.

Ghana · 2026

Principle established: A fair trial requires judicial independence and the absence of bias or conflict of interest, as these elements are fundamental to the integrity of the justice system and natural justice.