Timbo Backs JFK as Supreme Court Drama Overshadows Constitutional Amendment Battle
Ben Bassey Hon. Osman Timbo, the APC MP whose constitutional challenge sparked this week’s Supreme Court hearings, says his confidence in lead counsel Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara remains unshaken despite a dramatic contempt ruling that saw his lawyer detained.
In his first public comments since the courtroom confrontation, Timbo said his “heart and prayers” are with Kamara, describing the moment as a difficult one for his legal team. The MP reaffirmed his belief that Kamara will represent him well as proceedings continue.
Timbo expressed disappointment that media coverage after two days of hearings has fixated on the “Run Beleh” and “Contempt” issues rather than the substantive constitutional questions before the Court. He called these matters distractions, stressing that the public is eager to see how the Court will handle the core legal issues.
“I eagerly await that too,” Timbo said .
Timbo, an APC Member of Parliament, filed the original action challenging the passage of the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025, on August 31, 2026. His challenge centres on whether Parliament met the two-thirds majority requirement under Section 108(2)(b) of the 1991 Constitution—a threshold of at least 100 of the 149 MPs—when it approved the Bill on August 10 after opposition MPs walked out.
The Bill proposes sweeping electoral reforms, including lowering the presidential election threshold from 55% to 50% plus one vote, returning to a Proportional Representation system, and reserving 30% of political party leadership positions for women.
The hearings were overshadowed Thursday when Chief Justice Komba Kamanda ordered Kamara to remove his wig and proceed to the dock following a tense confrontation over remarks the Court deemed “terribly derogatory” to its integrity. After an apology was rejected as inadequate, Kamara was held in contempt and remanded at Pademba Road Correctional Centre until October 13.
The confrontation arose from Wednesday’s proceedings, during which Kamara challenged the Attorney-General’s Office for failing to file a Statement of Case.
The matter has been adjourned to Tuesday, October 13, 2026.