A controversy has erupted over the absence of Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas from a key Supreme Court hearing on the Constitutional Amendment Bill. According to SLPP MP Hon. Hindolo Moiwo Gevao, the Speaker missed the hearing due to diarrhoea and was on medical grounds. However, Parliament's Parliamentary and Public Relations Department has issued a statement dismissing the illness reports as "completely unfounded".
Parliament revealed that Speaker Thomas was out of the jurisdiction on official assignment in Conakry, Guinea, attending the State Opening of the 10th Legislature of the 5th Republic of Guinea. The statement added that he "need not attend the hearing as the State is properly represented". This development has raised questions over the reasons behind the Speaker's absence from the court hearing.
The Supreme Court hearing concerns legal challenges to the Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2025, which Parliament claims to have passed on August 10, 2026. Speaker Thomas presided over that sitting and is named as a defendant in one of the cases before the Court. The central dispute revolves around whether Parliament met the two-thirds majority requirement under Section 108(2)(b) of the 1991 Constitution.
The APC and other applicants argue that only 96 members supported the Bill after opposition MPs walked out. This has sparked a heated debate over the constitutionality of the Bill's passage. Wednesday's proceedings marked the first-ever live broadcast of a constitutional case in Sierra Leone, with the Independent Radio Network relaying proceedings to over 40 radio stations nationwide.
Chief Justice Komba Kamanda issued two key rulings during the sitting: allowing the Attorney-General to be heard despite not filing a Statement of Case, and granting the Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (IRLAJ) leave to join as a party. The Court adjourned to Thursday, October 8, at 10:00 a.m. for continued hearing.
The matter remains before the Supreme Court as petitioners seek judicial determination on the constitutionality of the Bill's passage. The outcome of this case has significant implications for Sierra Leone's constitutional future. The court's decision will determine whether the Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2025, was passed in accordance with the 1991 Constitution.
The case has garnered significant attention, with many stakeholders following the proceedings closely. The Supreme Court's decision is expected to have far-reaching consequences for Sierra Leone's democratic development. Key points to watch include the court's interpretation of Section 108(2)(b) of the 1991 Constitution and the implications of the Speaker's absence from the hearing.
Key points
- The Supreme Court hearing was broadcast live to over 40 radio stations nationwide.
- Speaker Thomas was attending the State Opening of the 10th Legislature of the 5th Republic of Guinea on an official trip.
- The court case centers on whether Parliament met the two-thirds majority requirement for passing the Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2025.
