Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, His Lordship Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda, received a commemorative plaque in recognition of his leadership and substantial contributions to the development of maritime law at the 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges in Abuja.
The seminar, which was organised by the Nigerian Judiciary and Nigeria Shippers’ Council, brought together judges, jurists, academics, policymakers and senior administrators from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Ghana, The Gambia and Hong Kong to discuss current developments in admiralty and maritime law.
The three-day forum aimed to take stock of the state of affairs in maritime law, identify emerging challenges and opportunities, and provide practical recommendations to enhance maritime jurisprudence and the effective administration of justice in maritime disputes. Participants attended technical sessions on cross-border enforcement, admiralty procedures, and sector-specific legal developments impacting shipping, port operations, and maritime commerce.
The invitation to serve as chair and moderator of the second technical session on July 23, 2026, is a testament to the standing of Chief Justice Kamanda in the international judicial community. His participation in the programme placed him alongside other eminent judicial leaders, notably the Chief Justice of Kenya, Honourable Justice Martha K. Koome, who also chaired and moderated one of the seminar’s sessions. The organisers thanked Chief Justice Kamanda for his active participation in shaping the discussions and his ongoing efforts to advance maritime jurisprudence in Sierra Leone and beyond. They presented him with a plaque of appreciation.
In his remarks at the event, Chief Justice Kamanda thanked the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council for the invitation and recognition. “The Judiciary of Sierra Leone will continue working with Judiciaries and other institutions to advance and broaden jurisprudence, not only in maritime law but also in other areas of the law, to strengthen our justice systems and to uphold the rule of law,” he said, adding that he was “committed to regional and international judicial cooperation.” “It’s a great honour to be here at this august gathering,” he said.
Chief Justice Kamanda was joined at the seminar by two senior members of Sierra Leone’s Admiralty and Fast Track Commercial Court, Honourable Justice F.B. Alhadi and Honourable Justice Mamie, whose presence reflected the commitment of the Sierra Leone judiciary to developing specialist capacity in commercial and maritime dispute resolution. The delegation’s visit was claimed to be part of a broader effort to adopt international best practices and to enhance domestic adjudicatory frameworks.
One of the significant contributions of the seminar was the paper presented by Prof. Awaal Magashi, Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano, who reviewed recent trends and legal challenges in maritime law and suggested ways to strengthen admiralty jurisprudence. The appointment of Chief Justice Kamanda is a testament to Sierra Leone’s growing participation and influence in international judicial forums and the judiciary’s continuing commitment to knowledge sharing, judicial excellence, and regional cooperation in specialised areas of law.
