Uncertainty Clouds Ex- Sierra Leonean President Exile To Nigeria

Former President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, reportedly banished on exile to Nigeria, albeit temporarily over charges   of treason and other offences slammed against him is yet to arrive Nigeria despite arrangements made by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Koroma was accused of masterminding  the failed coup d’ etat of November 26, 2023 in Sierra Leone  to topple the  democratically elected government of President Julius Maad Bio, which he has denied.

20 people were killed when gunmen broke into a military armoury and several prisons in Freetown and released almost 2,000 inmates in an apparent coup attempt that was eventually put down.

At the time of filing this report there is no information on his presence in Nigeria, despite the deal in Freetown brokered by President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Nana Akufo Addo of Ghana and the President of the ECOWAS Commission Dr. Omar Touray.

Part of the deal was that the government of Sierra Leone should drop the charges against Koroma and fly him to Nigeria on Thursday January 4. However, this has not come to fruition as Julius Maada Bio has allegedly refused to allow him leave the country.

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Timothy Kabba confirmed receiving the letter from the ECOWAS leaders detailing arrangements to allow for a temporary relocation of the former President to Nigeria.  He said that his government did not however countenance the content of the said letter “because it is a unilateral proposition by the president of the ECOWAS Commission.”

He said also that the letter “does not reflect the meeting President Bio held with the ECOWAS leaders in Freetown and the President of the commission so we will not countenance it.”

It therefore appears uncertain when the former President of Sierra Leone, who is under house arrest, will begin his exile in Nigeria.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education of the Government of Sierra Leone said the former leader was charged by Magistrate Santigie Bangura at the Magistrate Court on four count offences including treason, misprision of treason, and two counts of harbouring.

Dr. Koroma, who was represented by his lawyer Joseph Kamara, denied the charges and described  them  as a political  vendetta, which will set  “dangerous precedent” when former leaders would be accused on trumped up charges.

The arrangement to exile Koroma was contained in a letter issued by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray on Wednesday January 3.  The letter said that Nigeria has accepted to offer Koroma temporary exile after the intervention of the ECOWAS delegation led by President Macky Sall of Senegal and President Nana Akufo Addo of Ghana.

Touray in the statement he copied to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, President Macky Sall of Senegal and President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana on Wednesday highlighted the arrangements made by the regional leaders, to facilitate the exile of president Koroma on Thursday, January 4, 2023.

Part of the letter by the President of the ECOWAS Commission read “I refer the mission to Freetown on December 23 of the high-level ECOWAS delegation led by His Excellency President Nana Dankwa Akufo- Addo of Ghana, and His Excellency, Macky Sall President of Senegal.

“ I am  pleased to inform Your Excellency  that as part of the arrangements  reached  during the  mission, the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has  offered to host His Excellency  Ernest Bai Koroma, former President of  Sierra Leone, to Abuja on a temporary  basis. The former President has accepted the offer to be hosted in Nigeria.

“Subject to your approval, arrangements will be made to fly former President Koroma out of Freetown on Thursday 4 January 2024. He will be accompanied by his office manager and personal assistance.”

These arrangements include that; “The Government of Sierra Leone  will discontinue  legally and administrative  procedures against  him;  The government of Sierra Leone  will continue to  disburse  to him his benefits as former president; The Government of Sierra Leone will secure  his residences  in various locations in Sierra Leone and  The Government of Sierra Leone will consider refunding medical and travel expenses he has incurred.”

January 4 has come and gone and the former leader of Sierra Leone is yet to start his asylum in Nigeria.  This development portrays the conundrum of politics and power in the sub-region.  For instance, the West African leaders condemned coups in Guinea, Mali and Niger but are quick to grant asylum to a man accused of plotting to overthrow the democratic government of his country through coup.

Koroma has asserted his innocence but it will be most appropriate to allow the law to take its cause to determine his fate. For now there appears no concrete evidence linking him to the alleged coup.  Rather than regional leaders rushing to grant Koroma asylum in Nigeria, every aspect of the law should be tested to strengthen constitutional democracy in the country.

The regional leaders should only assist in ensuring that Koroma gets justice devoid of any political witch hunt.