Supreme Court Fast-Tracks Key Constitutional Cases
The Supreme Court of Sierra Leone has instituted an expedited schedule for three consolidated constitutional cases, advancing the disputes following a ruling to hear them jointly.
A five-judge bench led by Chief Justice Komba Kamanda instructed all participating parties on Thursday, October 8, 2026, to submit a memorandum of agreed issues within 14 days.
Under the procedural order, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, acting as defendants and applicants, have 10 days to file and serve their statement of case. Plaintiffs, represented by lead counsel Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, will have a subsequent 10-day window to amend and serve their response.
To streamline administration and unify the judicial record, the Court directed the Registrar to maintain a single consolidated file for the related matters.
The litigation stems from legislation passed on August 10, 2006. At issue is the interpretation of Sections 91(1), 94(2), 108, and 171 of the 1991 Constitution, specifically whether procedural requirements under Section 108 are mandatory when altering constitutional provisions under Section 6.
Solicitor-General Osman I. Kanu petitioned for the consolidation, arguing that separate proceedings risked contradictory rulings and unnecessary costs. Counsel for the respondents—including Kamara, Africanus Sesay, and Bamine Davies—offered no objection to the motion.
The Court further delineated the participation parameters for amicus curiae, restricting their scope to advisory legal submissions without introducing new issues or seeking remedies.
While the fast-tracked schedule governs the immediate procedural steps, the Supreme Court has yet to set a date to rule on the core constitutional merits.
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