Why Former President Koroma Deserves Immunity – Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara Gives Explanation

A crucial constitutional question has to be decided by the Supreme Court on which the public jury is still heatedly debating.

Former President Ernest Bai Koroma’s lawyer, Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara who served as Attorney General and Minister of Justice representing the former at the Appeals Court maintains that the 1991 Constitution grants his client immunity from prosecution for decisions and actions that he took whilst serving as Executive President of the country from his appointment in 2007 to 2018 when he completed his two terms in office.

JFK, as the former president’s lawyer is popularly known, quotes Section 48(4) of the 1991 Constitution to buttress his submission.

Section 48(4) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone states: “While any person holds or performs the functions of president, no civil or criminal proceedings should be instituted or continued against him in respect of anything done in his private or official capacity.”

JFK’s client is appealing against adverse findings made against him by the Commissions of Inquiry (COI) set up by the Bio led government into the activities of senior political and administrative officials of the former government.