investigation, trial, or inquiry, or, in the case of land, the carrying out thereon—
i.
ii.
of work of soil conservation or the conservation of other natural resources; or
of agricultural development or improvement which the owner or occupier of the land has been
required, and has without reasonable or lawful excuse refused or failed to carry out.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the making or operation of any law for the compulsory
taking of possession in the public interest of any property or the compulsory acquisition in the public interest in or
right over property, where that property, interest or right is held by a body corporate which is established directly by
any law and in which no moneys have been invested other than moneys proved by Parliament or by the Legislature
of the former Colony and Protectorate of Sierra Leone.
(4) Any such property of whatever description compulsorily taken possession of, and any interest in, or right over,
property of any description compulsorily acquired in the public interest or for public purposes, shall be used only in
the public interest or for the public purposes for which it is taken or acquired.
(5) Where any such property as is referred to in subsection (4) is not used in the public interest or for the public
purposes for which it was taken or acquired, the person who was the owner immediately before the compulsory
taking or acquisition, as the case may be, shall be given the first option of acquiring that property, in which event he
shall be required to refund the whole or such part of the compensation as may be agreed upon between the parties
thereto; and in the absence of any such agreement such amount as shall be determined by the High Court.
Protection for privacy of
home and other
property.
22. (1) Except with his own consent, no person shall be subjected to the search of his person or his property or the
entry by others on his premises, or interference with his correspondence, telephone conversations and telegraphic and
electronic communications.
(2) Nothing contained in or done under authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention
of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision that is reasonably required—
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, town and country
planning, or the development or utilization of any property in such a manners as to promote the public
benefit; or
to enable any body corporate established directly by any law or any department of the Government or any
local authority to enter on the premises of any person in order to carry out work in connection with any
property or installation which is lawfully on such premises and which belongs to that body corporate or to
the Government or to that authority, as the case may be; or
for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedoms of other persons; or
for the purpose of executing any judgement or order of a court; or
for the purpose of affording such special care and assistance as are necessary for the health, safety,
development and well-being of women, children and young persons, the aged and the handicapped;
and except in so far as that provision or, as the case may be, the thing done under authority thereof is shown not to be
reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.
Provision to secure
protection of law.
23. (1) Whenever any person is charged with a criminal offence he shall unless the charge is withdrawn, be afforded
a fair hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial court established by law.
(2) Any court or other authority prescribed by law for the determination of the existence or extent of civil rights or
obligations shall be independent and impartial; and where proceedings for such determination are instituted by or
against any person or authority or the Government before such court or authority, the case shall be given fair hearing
within a reasonable time.
(3) All proceedings of every court and proceedings relating to the determination of the existence or the extent of civil
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