Blyden Invokes Late Chief Justice Timbo in Criticism of JFK
Sylvia Olayinka Blyden has criticised lawyer Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara (JFK) over his conduct towards Chief Justice Komba Kamanda, invoking the late former Chief Justice Abdulai Bapateh Timbo while questioning whether his son, Osman Abdal Timbo, would have accepted similar treatment of his father.
Osman recently expressed confidence in JFK’s ability to represent him in the ongoing Supreme Court proceedings concerning the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025, despite the controversy surrounding the lawyer’s conduct and detention.
In response, Blyden questioned whether Osman would have accepted his late father being disrespected in the same manner, arguing that the office of Chief Justice must be accorded respect regardless of the individual occupying it.
The controversy followed an exchange between JFK and Chief Justice Kamanda during the constitutional proceedings, when the lawyer told the Chief Justice, “You are showing your hand too early.” Blyden described the remark as an “uncouth & unwarranted accusation” and rejected JFK’s reported defence that his conduct was acceptable under Sierra Leone’s adversarial legal system, arguing that the system applies between opposing lawyers and litigants, not lawyers and judges.
On Thursday, October 8, Chief Justice Kamanda directed JFK to retract his remarks and apologise. After a 15-minute recess, the lawyer was given another opportunity to apologise, but the Chief Justice rejected his response as lacking sincerity and remorse. He subsequently ordered JFK to remove his wig and enter the dock before he was detained at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road, Freetown, on a contempt charge.
Meanwhile, Osman expressed disappointment that public discussion had focused on the “RUN BELEH” controversy and contempt proceedings rather than the constitutional questions before the Supreme Court, describing the issues as distractions.
The Supreme Court has adjourned the matter to Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
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