Chief Justice Komba Kamanda has ordered the arrest of former Attorney General Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara (JFK) following a contentious Supreme Court hearing over the disputed 2025 Constitutional Amendment Act.
The incident occurred during the first day of hearings when Kamara, acting as lead counsel for the opposition All People’s Congress (APC), challenged documents submitted by the Attorney-General’s office. His remarks during this confrontation were deemed contemptuous by the Chief Justice.
After initially apologising, Kamara was called to the dock, where his apology was rejected as insufficient. He was ordered to remove his barrister’s wig and subsequently taken into custody. He has since been imprisoned at Pademba Road Prisons, awaiting further proceedings scheduled for Tuesday, 13 October 2026.
The dispute intensified when Kamara argued that critical documents had not been filed, prompting the Chief Justice to remind him that the Supreme Court operates independently and is not a political arena.
While supporters of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) accused Kamara of disrespecting the Chief Justice, opposition supporters claim the incident exemplifies judicial overreach and bias under President Maada Bio’s government.
