Supreme Court Sets Adjournment for 2 P.M. in Constitutional Amendment Case
Sierra Leone’s Supreme Court is due to resume proceedings at 2 p.m. Thursday, October 8, 2026, as judges consider applications arising from a constitutional amendment dispute over Parliament’s handling of the 2025 amendment bill.
The court adjourned after the second day of hearings, with applications concerning whether related proceedings should be consolidated and other legal requests before the judges.
The proceedings concern the interpretation of the constitutional procedure for amending provisions that are not classified as entrenched.
At the centre of the dispute is the relationship between Sections 91 and 108 of the 1991 Constitution and whether the procedure used to advance the 2025 Constitutional Amendment Bill satisfied the Constitution.
The case also raises questions about the parliamentary process, including requirements concerning publication of an amendment bill and the level of parliamentary support required for constitutional amendments.
The Supreme Court is hearing the matter following a constitutional reference from the Speaker of Parliament, alongside related proceedings challenging aspects of the amendment process.
Recent reporting on the proceedings indicates that the Attorney-General has sought to have related cases heard together, while the Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice has been permitted to participate as amicus curiae, or friend of the court.
The court’s ruling on the applications could determine how the related constitutional proceedings are handled before the judges turn to the substantive questions surrounding the amendment process.
The Judiciary’s official website identifies the Supreme Court as Sierra Leone’s apex court. The proceedings are expected to resume at 2 p.m. Thursday.