By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, Oct. 7, 2026: The Supreme Court of Sierra Leone has reserved a ruling on an application filed in the ongoing constitutional challenge relating to the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The matter came before a five-member panel of the Supreme Court presided over by Chief Justice Komba Kamanda, alongside Justices M.F. Deen Tarawally, A.M. Bangurah, F.B. Alhadi and J.E.L. King.
The application, filed by Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay, seeks the consolidation of three separate cases currently before the Court concerning the constitutional amendment bill.
The second application was brought by Basita Michael, who is seeking permission to participate in the proceedings as an amicus curiae (friend of the court) or to be joined as an interested party. Her application was granted.
During Wednesday’s hearing, proceedings were briefly marked by a tense exchange between Chief Justice Kamanda and counsel for the All People’s Congress (APC), Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara.
Kamara, a former Attorney General, raised concerns over the State’s failure to file its Statement of Case, arguing that his legal team was prepared to address the constitutional issues before the Court while the respondents had not submitted the required document outlining their position.
In response, Chief Justice Kamanda reminded counsel that the Supreme Court is an independent judicial institution and should not be treated as a political platform. He stressed the importance of maintaining the dignity, integrity and decorum of the Court.
Kamara, however, maintained that the matter was of significant constitutional importance and that all parties should be adequately prepared to assist the Court in determining the issues before it.
The exchange became heated, with both parties raising their voices before the Court briefly stood down and later resumed proceedings.
The constitutional dispute centres on the legality and procedure surrounding the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025, including questions regarding the voting threshold and constitutional requirements for the passage of amendments under the 1991 Constitution.
The case has attracted widespread public interest, with the Court’s eventual interpretation expected to have far-reaching implications for Sierra Leone’s constitutional amendment process.
At the conclusion of proceedings, the Supreme Court stood down the matter and reserved ruling on the application pending before the Court. The ruling date is yet to be announced.
According to a statement issued by the Judiciary of Sierra Leone, the Court will determine whether the three matters should be consolidated before addressing the substantive constitutional issues.