Freetown, Sierra Leone – 28 May 2025 – The long-running murder trial of Abdul Kpaka has once again hit a roadblock, as procedural issues and repeated prosecutorial delays continue to obstruct progress, despite explicit instructions from the Supreme Court to expedite the matter.
Reassigned to Honourable Justice Alfred T. Ganda following a landmark Supreme Court ruling, the trial was expected to finally move forward. However, fresh complications on Tuesday, 27th May, have forced yet another adjournment—this time due to an incomplete jury panel required for a re-balloting process demanded by the prosecution.
After the Supreme Court found that the initial proceedings—held without a jury and marked by the denial of bail—violated constitutional rights, it ordered a retrial with a full jury before a new judge. The case was subsequently handed over to Justice Ganda, but since then, progress has been minimal.
State Prosecutor Isaac Sesay, who was absent during two early hearings after reassignment, failed to make any substantial headway in nearly 10 subsequent sittings. Despite being granted multiple adjournments to bring forward witnesses, Sesay either failed to appear or showed up without witnesses. As a result, the January to May 2025 criminal session ended without the prosecution presenting a single witness.
Lead Defence Counsel Emmanuel Teddy Koroma, during the 10th court appearance, renewed a bail application and argued that the prosecution’s consistent failures were grounds for dismissal of the case, citing lack of diligence and apparent disinterest from the state.
Further complicating matters, when the new criminal session opened on 19th May, Prosecutor Sesay challenged the legitimacy of the previously empanelled jury—selected during his absence—claiming discomfort with the process. In a surprising decision, Justice Ganda allowed for a re-balloting of the jury, ordering additional jurors to be added to the existing twelve.
However, only five new jurors reported for duty on 27th May, falling short of the required number for the process to proceed. The court was left with no choice but to adjourn the matter again, setting a new date for 3rd June 2025.
This latest postponement adds to growing concerns about the justice system’s capacity to manage high-profile cases with urgency and integrity. Kpaka, who remains on remand, is accused of the murder of Sia Fatu Kamara and attempting to obstruct justice by fabricating evidence.
His original trial, conducted by Justice Alhaji Momoh Jah Stevens JA, was voided by the Supreme Court after it found serious legal and procedural violations—including denial of jury trial and potential judicial bias. The ruling, delivered by Justice Glenna Thompson JSC, emphasized the right to a fair and impartial hearing, highlighting that justice must not only be done, but be seen to be done.
Since the reassignment, however, the case has stagnated under the weight of prosecutorial lapses. Legal experts and civil society organizations have expressed alarm over what they describe as a breach of Section 23(1) of the 1991 Constitution, which guarantees a fair and timely trial.
“This is not just about one case—it’s about public confidence in the justice system,” said one legal analyst. “The longer this drags on, the more it damages the credibility of the courts.”
With pressure mounting, there are increasing calls for Chief Justice Komba Kamanda to intervene and enforce compliance with the Supreme Court’s directives. Stakeholders are urging immediate corrective measures to restore public faith in the judicial process and prevent further erosion of the rule of law.
For now, the fate of Abdul Kpaka remains in limbo, as the case limps forward—caught in a cycle of delays, procedural wrangling, and missed opportunities for justice.
As the legal maxim reminds: *Justice delayed is justice denied.*
