Lead Defence Counsel Hon. Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara (JFK), Esq., has strongly criticized what he described as disturbing developments during court proceedings involving the National Secretary General of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC), Lansana Dumbuya, Esq.

The high-profile matter ended in a stalemate at the Freetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday after Magistrate Mustapha Brima Jah and state prosecutors reportedly exited the bench without formally adjourning the case.

The walkout followed a dispute regarding the size of the defense team, leaving the defendant remanded to the Pademba Road Correctional Centre.

Speaking shortly after the incident, Mr. Kamara highlighted the “remarkable show of professional solidarity” as 105 lawyers arrived voluntarily to represent Mr. Dumbuya.

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To manage the overcrowded courtroom, Magistrate Jah had issued a directive limiting the defense to 15 lawyers and the prosecution to two. Mr. Kamara stated that while the defense team complied with this order in good faith, the magistrate allegedly abandoned the proceedings shortly thereafter.

“The Magistrate allegedly left the courtroom without formally adjourning the proceedings, leaving both counsel and the defendant in a state of uncertainty,” Kamara said, describing the turn of events as “unprecedented and disrespectful.”

The lead counsel’s criticisms echo those of courtroom observers who characterized the lack of a formal adjournment as a breach of procedural consistency. Mr. Kamara’s team argued that the sudden departure of the bench stalled the delivery of justice and failed to respect the legal standing of the 15-man team that had remained to proceed with the matter.

The defense maintains that the “chaotic atmosphere” cited by the court could have been managed without halting the trial, particularly given the defendant’s right to a timely hearing under the Constitution of Sierra Leone.