Supreme Court Rejects JFK’s Apology, Orders His Remand
A confrontation between lawyer Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara (JFK) and Chief Justice Komba Kamanda at Sierra Leone’s Supreme Court on Thursday resulted in Kamara being ordered to remove his wig, enter the dock and subsequently remanded to prison after the Court rejected his apology for remarks deemed “terribly derogatory” to its integrity.
The dispute began during Wednesday’s hearing on the interpretation and application of the 1991 Constitution, when Kamara challenged documents filed by the Attorney-General’s Office, arguing that key court processes, including a Statement of Case, had not been filed.
The disagreement escalated over remarks attributed to Kamara, prompting the Chief Justice to demand a public apology and warn of possible contempt proceedings and restrictions on his appearance before the Court.
On Thursday, Kamara apologised and withdrew his earlier statement after a 15-minute recess, explaining that his arguments were driven by his responsibility to his client, the State and the nation, and his intention to defend the Constitution.
However, the Court found his apology unacceptable. Efforts by senior lawyers, including Sulaiman Borbor Kabba, and the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice to intervene were unsuccessful.
As police officers led him away, Kamara told members of the Bar, “Members of the Bar, I will be back.”
The case has been adjourned to Tuesday, October 13, 2026, with attention now focused on the next steps in the proceedings and the implications of the confrontation for legal advocacy and the authority of Sierra Leone’s highest court.
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