Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Osman Timbo, Opposition APC Member of Parliament for the Western Area Urban District, has raised serious concerns regarding the legality of the “Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025.” in a formal letter addressed to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay Esq.
The challenge, dated February 12, 2026, alleges that the government failed to follow mandatory constitutional safeguards required to alter the nation’s supreme law.
At the heart of the matter is Section 108(2)(a) of the 1991 Constitution. The law stipulates that any bill intended to amend the Constitution must be published in the official Gazette at least twice before it can be read in Parliament. Furthermore, at least nine days must pass between these two publications.
Hon. Timbo, who is also a legal practitioner, states that while the Bill was presented for its first reading on January 27, 2025, his investigations suggest only one publication occurred—on December 24, 2024.
“I had even asked parliamentary staff if a previous or subsequent version was served on them, but to no avail,” Timbo wrote. He further noted that a physical search of the Government Printing Department and the Government Bookshop yielded no evidence of the required second publication.
The MP has formally requested that the Attorney-General provide copies of the missing Gazette issue. He warned that if the second publication did not take place, the legislative process is flawed and the Bill must be withdrawn immediately.
“The procedural steps prescribed for constitutional amendment are not discretionary, but mandatory,” Timbo stated, emphasizing that strict adherence is necessary for “legitimacy, public confidence, and national cohesion.”
The letter has been copied to high-ranking officials, including the Speaker of Parliament, the Clerk, and leadership from both the government and the opposition.
The Attorney-General’s office has not yet issued a public response to the inquiry. If the procedural error is confirmed, it could potentially stall the government’s efforts to amend the Constitution, forcing a restart of the legislative timeline.
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