Former Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, Ade Renner-Thomas has taken his formal leave of President Koroma.

"Your Excellency, I wish to express my profound gratitude to you sir for giving me the opportunity to take leave of you on the occasion of my retirement from office as Chief Justice, a position I have held for almost four years," he said.

He commended the President for his understanding in giving him concurrence to proceed on retirement before the compulsory statutory age of 65 years noting that President Koroma was very familiar with the circumstances surrounding his decision to proceed on early retirement.

Thomas said he was faced with the mammoth task of not only to rebuild, reform and modernize but also to restore public confidence in the judiciary which he said had been severely eroded."

On whether he succeeded in his discharge of duties, the former Chief Justice said it was not for him to assess himself adding that the future of the judiciary was bound to be bright under the present administration.

President Ernest Bai Koroma thanked the former Chief Justice for diligent service to his country and for making his contribution in the reform of the judiciary.

Accepting his formal retirement, having understood the reasons related to it, Koroma wished him well in his new life.