More drama in Sierra Leone as Chief Justice orders the arrest of former Justice Minister JFK for yesterday’s tense exchanges at the Supreme Court

By Kabs Kanu

Chief Justice Judge Komba Kamanda today ordered the arrest of former Attorney General and Minister of Justice , Lawyer Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara ( JFK) for the tense exchanges between the two of them yesterday at the Supreme Court on the first day of hearing of the matter of the disputed 2025 Constitutional Amendment Act.

Screenshot

Lawyer Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara (JFK) was serving as lead counsel for the opposition All People’s Congress (APC). : The order followed a heated exchange and dispute during a Supreme Court hearing regarding the constitutional amendment proceedings.

JFK challenged documents filed by the Attorney-General’s office and later made remarks that the Chief Justice considered contemptuous. JFK has been incarcerated at the maximum Pademba Road Prisons in Freetown.

**In what was yet another remarkable drama, ** when hearings resumed today, the Chief Justice rejectef JFK’s initial apology and retraction yesterday which he considered insufficient, and ordered him to remove his barrister’s wig , called him to the dock, and ordered his arrest.

JFK was immediately taken into custody but was brought back briefly with the hope of squeezing another apology out of him . The hearing on apology and bail did not hold and JFK was carted away to the notorious Pademba Road Prisons where he has been jailed , pending further proceedings scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, 2026 .

Today’s arrest of JFK emanated from yesterday’s hearing, during which JFK challenged the documents filed by the Attorney-General’s Office. He argued that key documents, including a Statement of Case, had not been filed. This led to a tense exchange during which the Chief Justice reminded JFK that the Supreme Court is founded on independence and integrity and is not a political theatre.

Supporters of the ruling SLPP, who are trying to amend the constitution, accused JFK of disrespecting the Chief Justice when he said: “Your honor, you were quick to raise your hands “ but opposition supporters and social media commentators regard the incidents as high- handedness by the Chief Justice and another example of the Sierra Leone judiciary gone rogue and tyrannical under the regime of President Maada Bio and the SLPP.

Screenshot

Screenshot

Screenshot