Supreme Court Adjourns Constitutional Amendment Case After APC Procedural Challenge
Sahid Bangura The Supreme Court of Sierra Leone has adjourned proceedings in a case challenging constitutional amendments recently passed by Parliament after lead counsel for the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) raised a procedural objection during Wednesday’s hearing.
As reported by Politico Online, the Court began hearing objections to the amendments on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, following a constitutional reference by President Julius Maada Bio, but proceedings were briefly interrupted after APC lead lawyer Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara challenged the propriety of a notice of objection filed by the Office of the Attorney-General.
Kamara questioned whether the state’s filings had complied with established court procedures, particularly whether the relevant documents had been properly served and formally placed before the Court.
The objection led to a tense exchange between Kamara and Chief Justice Komba Kamanda over compliance with court processes. The Chief Justice subsequently ordered a brief recess to allow the panel of judges to review the procedural issues raised before proceeding further with the matter.
The constitutional dispute stems from Parliament’s recent passage of amendments, the legality and interpretation of which President Bio referred to the Supreme Court on 14 September 2026 for judicial determination.
The matter is being heard by a five-member panel comprising Chief Justice Komba Kamanda, who is presiding, and Justices M.F. Deen Tarawally, Abdulai M. Bangurah, F.B. Alhadi and J.E.L. King.
The Supreme Court has adjourned the matter to Thursday, 8 October 2026, when proceedings are expected to continue.