FREETOWN, 13th October 2026 – Prominent Sierra Leonean lawyer and All People’s Congress (APC) lead counsel Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara Esq., alias JFK has been discharged and released from custody after tendering an unreserved apology to the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone.
Kamara, who had been remanded at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road since Wednesday 8th October for contempt of court, appeared before the five-judge bench this morning, Tuesday 13th October, chaired by Chief Justice Komba Kamanda.
He appeared with members of his legal team led by Suliaman Kabba Koroma Esq. Together they appealed to the Chief Justice and the court to accept the apology, forgive the earlier remarks, and order his release.
In response, Chief Justice Kamanda stated that the court had accepted the apology and that Kamara was therefore discharged.
“The court has accepted the apology and he is therefore discharged,” the Chief Justice declared from the bench.
CJ Warns Lawyers, Journalists
Chief Justice Kamanda underscored that the ongoing constitutional proceedings are of immense national importance and must be treated with the seriousness they deserve. He affirmed that the Supreme Court remains ready to interpret the Constitution in the interest of the nation.
Addressing the wider public, Justice Kamanda cautioned lawyers, journalists and other members of the public against making statements or granting interviews that could undermine the administration of justice or damage the integrity of the judicial process.
He also commended lawyers appearing on both sides for their comportment during the proceedings, reminding legal practitioners of their professional duty to respect the court, uphold judicial authority and avoid conduct that could bring the legal profession into disrepute.
How JFK Ended Up In Pademba Road
The contempt finding arose from a heated exchange during hearings on 7th and 8th October concerning challenges to the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
Kamara, appearing as lead counsel for Hon. Osman Abdal Timbo and other APC MPs, had questioned the Attorney-General’s Office over the filing of documents, including the absence of a Statement of Case required under Rule 92(1) of the Supreme Court Rules, 1982. He also objected to the consolidation of three cases into one.
During the exchange, the Chief Justice regarded certain remarks by Kamara as derogatory to the court’s integrity and demanded a specific apology and retraction. When the initial apology offered was deemed inadequate, the Chief Justice ordered Kamara to remove his wig, enter the dock, and was remanded in custody until today’s sitting.
The incident forced the Judiciary to suspend all High Court sittings at the Main Law Court Building on Siaka Stevens Street yesterday and today to allow the Supreme Court hearing to continue uninterrupted.
Under Sierra Leone legal practice, an order to remove a wig signifies that counsel is no longer recognised as an officer of the Court at that moment, while an order to enter the dock is considered a grave reprimand.
With Kamara’s discharge, attention is expected to return to the substantive issues before the Supreme Court.
The Court is hearing three consolidated cases – S.C. 8/2026, 9/2026 and 11/2026 – filed against the Speaker of Parliament and the Attorney-General over the passage of the Amendment Bill on 10th August.
The plaintiffs say Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas wrongly declared the Bill passed with 97 votes, instead of the 100 votes – two-thirds of 149 MPs – required by Section 108 of the 1991 Constitution. The Bill seeks to make Proportional Representation permanent, reduce the presidential threshold from 55% to 50%+1, and introduce a 30% quota for women.
Hearing continues.
