By : Usman Fambuleh
The Supreme Court of Sierra Leone is set to determine a constitutional challenge concerning the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after Hon. Osman Abdal Timbo, Member of Parliament, filed an Originating Notice of Motion before the Court.
The action, filed through his counsel, Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, Esq., seeks the Supreme Court’s interpretation of constitutional provisions governing the amendment of the country’s Constitution.
At the centre of the challenge are Sections 91(1) and 108 of the Constitution, particularly the requirements set out under Section 108(2)(a) and (b).
According to the statement issued by counsel, the case raises questions over whether the mandatory publication requirements for constitutional amendments were properly complied with and whether the required two-thirds majority threshold was met.
Counsel argues that these requirements serve as constitutional safeguards to ensure that amendments to the country’s supreme law are carried out in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Constitution.
The legal challenge comes amid public interest in the 2025 Constitutional Amendment Bill and could have implications for the interpretation and application of constitutional amendment procedures in Sierra Leone.
Kamara maintained that the case is not politically motivated but is intended to secure an authoritative interpretation of the Constitution and ensure that state institutions operate within their constitutional powers.
He further argued that the Constitution remains supreme over all institutions and public officials, including the Executive, Parliament and other organs of government.
Through the action, Timbo is asking the Supreme Court to provide clarity on the constitutional requirements governing the amendment process.
The Court’s eventual determination is expected to address the legal questions raised in the application and could provide guidance on the validity of the procedures followed in relation to the 2025 Amendment Bill.
Counsel has urged Sierra Leoneans to closely follow the proceedings, describing the case as significant to constitutionalism, the rule of law and the integrity of the country’s constitutional amendment process.
