By Janet A Sesay
Lawyer Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara (JFK) has on Wednesday 7, October, 2026 at the Supreme Court in Freetown, had a heated argument with the Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, Justice Komba Kamanda during the hearing of the constitutional challenge to the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The exchange followed by submissions made Kamara who raised concerns over the failure of the office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice to file its Statement of Case in the proceedings.
Lawyer Kamara argued that his legal team had come prepared to address the constitutional questions before the Court but that the State had not filed the required documents setting out their position.
Lawyer Kamara submission prompted an intervention from Chief Justice Komba Kamanda, who is presiding over the five-member panel hearing the matter.
The Chief Justice Komba Kamanda reminded Counsel Kamara that the Supreme Court is an independent institution and should not be treated as a political platform. He emphasised the need to preserve the dignity, integrity and decorum of the court.
Lawyer Kamara, however, maintained his position and insisted that the matter before the court is of serious constitutional importance and that all parties appearing before the Court should be adequately prepared.
The exchange between the two senior legal figures became heated, with their voices raised during the proceedings.
The Court subsequently stood down briefly before proceedings continued.
The case is among several matters before the Supreme Court concerning the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The constitutional dispute centres, among other issues, on the procedure and voting threshold required for the passage of constitutional amendments under the 1991 Constitution.
The proceedings have attracted significant national attention because the Court’s eventual interpretation could have implications for the country’s constitutional amendment process.
The five supreme court judges include the Chief Justice Komba Kamanda who is the presiding Judge followed by Justice M. F Deen Tarawalie, Justice A. M Bangura, Justice Fatmata Bintu Alhadi and Justice J. E. L King.