Section 147, The Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991

(1) Save as otherwise provided in subsection (2), the President shall, by Constitutional instrument, appoint a Commission of inquiry into any matter of public interest where— a. the Cabinet advises that it is in the public interest so to do; or b. Parliament by a resolution passed in that behalf requires that a Commission be appointed to inquire into any matter specified in the resolution being a matter of public importance. (2) A Commission appointed pursuant to the provisions of subsection (1) may consist of a sole Commissioner or two or more persons one of whom shall be appointed the Chairman of the Commission. (3) No person shall be appointed a sole Commissioner or the Chairman of a Commission of Inquiry pursuant to the provisions of this section unless— a. he is a Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature; or b. he is a person qualified to be appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature; or c. he is a person who has held office as a Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature; or d. he is a person who possess special background knowledge in respect of the matter forming the subjectmatter of the investigation. (4) Subject to the provisions of subsection (3), where a Commission of Inquiry appointed pursuant to the provisions of subsection (1) consists of more than two Commissioners other than the Chairman, at least one of them shall be a person who possesses special qualifications or knowledge in respect of the matter forming the subject-matter of the investigation. Powers, rights and privileges of Commissions of Inquiry.