Saturday Court Sitting Introduced in Kenema to Fast-Track Trials

The Chief Justice, His Lordship Hon. Justice Kumba Kamanda, has introduced Saturday court sittings to strengthen Sierra Leone’s justice system and ensure speedy trials.

Under the New Criminal Procedure Act (NCPA) 2024, both Preliminary Investigation (PI) matters and Summary cases are now time-bound. The prosecution has 14 days to present its case, and the defence has 14 days to respond, creating a total 28-day window for such cases. This is a shift from the previous framework under Act No. 32 of 1965, which did not have strict timelines.

The initiative was demonstrated at the Magistrate Court in Kenema on Saturday, 25th October 2025, where Principal Magistrate Hadiru Daboh presided over a Saturday session. Sidi Yayah Fofanah, also known as Wiji, from Tongo Field, was arraigned for possession of narcotics contrary to Section 48(a) of the Pharmacy and Drugs Act No. 12 of 2001.

According to the prosecution, on Tuesday, 7th October 2025, at Tongo Field Police Station, Fofanah was found in possession of five wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Cannabis sativa and 250mg of tramadol (Class A drug) without lawful authority.

The defendant pleaded not guilty, and the case was adjourned for further hearing. The matter was prosecuted by Police Inspector Alphan Samuel Musa, with D/PC 19516 Dakowa Ibrahim serving as the witness from the Tongo Field Police Division.