Aderemi Raymond Desmond Renner-Thomas (born 7 September 1945 – 17 November, 2022) was a former Chief Justice of Sierra Leone.[1]
An ethnic Creole, Thomas was born and raised in Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital. He was a lecturer at The Fourah Bay University Sierra Leone, a Diplomat serving in France and Nigeria. He later obtained a PhD in land law. In 2005, he was appointed to the position of chief justice by former president, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.[2] In 2008 Renner-Thomas retired as chief justice.[3] The president Ernest Bai Koroma appointed Umu Hawa Tejan Jalloh as his successor. He worked as a consultant lawyer at Renner Thomas Associates. He died on the 17 November 2022.
Ade was married to Jennifer Renner-Thomas (née Bankole-Jones) for over 40 years. In 1988 they had twin girls Janine Renner-Thomas and Jacqueline Renner-Thomas, who currently live and work in London. Jennifer lived with Ade in Freetown until his death in 2022. She is the director of the MEPS Trust Well Woman Clinic.
Prominent barrister and educator, Renner-Thomas became chief justice of Sierra Leone in 2005.
The Full Text of the Statement delivered at State House by Dr. Renner Thomas before he started his retirement on Friday 31 October 2008, is reproduced on this page for our cherished readers.