Supreme Court Judge Calls for Resignation of Chief Justice Over Alleged Breach of Constitution
Supreme Court Judge Hon. Justice Allan B. Halloway JSC has publicly accused Chief Justice Komba Kamanda of gross constitutional breaches and human rights violations, urging him to resign or face potential removal from office.
In a strongly worded letter dated 11th August 2025, Justice Halloway alleged that the Chief Justice had unlawfully withheld his mid-month allowance, blocked fuel supply, delayed salary payments, and ignored requests for vehicle maintenance and medical reimbursements, forcing him to cover personal expenses that should have been provided by the Judiciary.
The judge further criticized the Chief Justice for interfering in judicial proceedings, including recalling partly heard cases from judges, a practice Halloway said undermines judicial independence and threatens the fair administration of justice. He cited an incident last July where he protested against the Chief Justice’s interference in a case he was assigned, arguing that such actions exceed the Chief Justice’s authority.
Justice Halloway warned that these actions violate Section 138(3) of the 1991 Constitution, which protects judges’ salaries and conditions of service from being varied to their disadvantage. He also accused the Chief Justice of sideling him from court panels, effectively rendering him inactive, which Halloway described as a “tacit suspension” outside the Chief Justice’s constitutional powers.
In his letter, Justice Halloway emphasized that the Constitution vests judicial power in the judiciary and no one, including the Chief Justice, should obstruct judges from performing their duties. He called the Chief Justice’s conduct “unprecedented, unconstitutional, and the worst violation of judicial independence” in his career.
Justice Halloway also indicated that he may seek redress through constitutional provisions and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights if his grievances are not addressed.
The Supreme Court Judge concluded that the Chief Justice must reverse his actions, resign, or face removal from office to uphold the integrity of Sierra Leone’s judiciary.
This is a worrisome development which must be tolerated. Enough is enough.
Correction: must not be tolerated.
This is an interesting development. When injustice is metted out on ordinary citizens, the judiciary keeps quiet. Now that the Supreme Court Judge is tasting the bitterness of their own medicine, he is complaining. Who cares? Unu try dae.
When you allow injustice to happen to one person it will come back to everyone! Imagine this happening to a whole Supreme Court judge 😳😳😲 how many ordinary people would have been affected by now?! But these same judges who suppose to stand for justice would never do that for the people and now because of self serving …. What goes around comes around