Former Director of Surveys and Lands Exposes Alleged Waterloo Land Grabbing Scheme
By Thaimu Thullah
A special investigative report released by the former Director of Surveys and Lands at the Ministry of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment, Mr. S. A. Luseni, has exposed what appears to be a coordinated attempt to illegally seize land in the Waterloo area of the Western Rural District.
The report details how fake LS (Licensed Surveyor) numbers, doctored survey plans, and allegedly fabricated land ownership documents were used in an effort to claim ownership of parcels of land belonging to Mr. James M. Legg and his company, Jong High Peak Enterprises. The affected lands are located in Nyamba Town and Maluseni Village at Joe Town, Waterloo.
Court-Ordered Investigation
According to the report, Mr. Luseni, a Licensed Surveyor and former Director of Surveys and Lands, was formally invited to conduct an independent professional investigation at the request of Magistrate Hadiru K. Daboh, who was presiding over the matter at Court No. 3, Ross Road, East of Freetown.
The investigation was initiated following disputes over land ownership claims brought before the court.
Findings of Irregularities
In the course of his investigation, Mr. Luseni discovered serious inconsistencies in the documents presented by Abdul Rahman Olu Kamara, Mohamed Davies Koroma, and Abubakar Kamara, who were claiming ownership of the disputed parcels of land.
According to the findings:
The claimants allegedly presented land documents bearing two different LS numbers for the same parcels of land.
The LS numbers in question were registered on the same date and in the same year, a scenario which professional standards indicate is highly irregular and raises serious doubts about the authenticity of the documents.
The inconsistencies, according to Mr. Luseni, fundamentally undermine the credibility of the survey plans and title documents relied upon to assert ownership.
The former Director concluded that the documents presented were deeply flawed and inconsistent with standard land registration and survey practices.
Alleged Attempt to Dispossess Lawful Owners
The report further suggests that the disputed documents were allegedly used in an attempt to fraudulently claim ownership of lands legally belonging to Mr. James M. Legg and Jong High Peak Enterprises.
Mr. Luseni’s professional assessment casts significant doubt on the legitimacy of the ownership claims made by the individuals named in the report and highlights broader concerns about land grabbing, document falsification, and abuse of survey processes in the Waterloo area.
Broader Implications
The revelations underscore the growing problem of land disputes and fraudulent land documentation in the Western Rural District and beyond. Experts say such practices not only undermine public confidence in land administration systems but also threaten investment, social stability, and the rule of law.
The same matter has again been brought before the High Court and this time around the matter is before Hon Justice Andrew Johnson.
Public expectation is for the High Court Judge to carefully assess and investigate all documents submitted and forwarded to the court by the same people who were exposed of the criminal land cartel scheme at the Magistrate Court presided by Magistrate Hadiru Daboh.
See more details in our subsequent editions.