On Wednesday, January 3, 2024, in front of Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Magistrate Court #2, the Republic of Sierra Leone charged its former President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, with treason for his alleged role in the failed coup of November 26, 2023.
The former President is charged with four offences: treason, misprision of treason and two counts of harboring.
Dr. Koroma’s indictment comes amidst ECOWAS’ intervention for the Sierra Leonean government to drop all charges against him and allow him to be flown to Nigeria, which has offered to host him in Abuja on a temporary basis beginning January 4, 2024.
On December 23, 2023, a high-level ECOWAS delegation, led by the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the President of Senegal, Macky Sall, went to Sierra Leone and reached an agreement with the government that Nigeria has offered to host former President Koroma, and the former President, too, accepted the offer to be hosted in Nigeria. However, the agreement was subject to approval by the Sierra Leonean government.
An ECOWAS letter, dated January 2, 2024 and addressed to President Julius Maada Bio, says, “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 assistant.”
In addition to seeking President Bio’s approval for Koroma’s departure, the ECOWAS Commission sought the confirmation that once President Koroma leaves Sierra Leone the government will discontinue all legal and administrative procedures against him; continue to disburse to him his benefits as former President; secure his residences in the various locations in Sierra Leone; and consider refunding medical and travel expenses he has incurred.
Unfortunately, former President Koroma was found guilty of treason and other charges on January 3, 2024, as indicated in a public notice from the Ministry of Information and Civic Education of Sierra Leone.