Speaker Thomas Stands by Ruling, Sends Constitutional Question to Supreme Court

Speaker of Sierra Leone’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, has maintained that his ruling on the parliamentary proceedings over the 2025 Constitutional Amendment Bill is final, while referring a separate constitutional question of “grave public interest” to the Supreme Court for an opinion.

The Speaker said his ruling cannot be interpreted or challenged by a court, but asked the Supreme Court to determine whether a non-entrenched constitutional provision can be amended solely through Section 91(1) of the 1991 Constitution.

He has requested the Supreme Court to provide its opinion within three months to guide future parliamentary discussions on the matter.

The clarification follows Monday’s heated proceedings over whether provisions of the Constitutional Amendment Bill required a two-thirds majority or could be approved by a simple majority during the committee stage. The dispute led opposition APC lawmakers to walk out of Parliament.

Speaker Thomas’ latest position leaves his parliamentary ruling in force while placing the broader constitutional question before the Supreme Court for interpretation and guidance.