By Buba Gagigo
Sierra Leone’s Former President, Ernest Bai Koroma, is set to be temporarily relocated to Nigeria, as confirmed in a letter from the President of the ECOWAS Commission to Sierra Leone’s current President, Julius Maada Bio.
The Government of Nigeria has extended an offer to host the ex-President in Abuja, and he has accepted the temporary arrangement. Pending approval, the relocation is scheduled for Thursday, January 4, 2024, with the former President accompanied by his office manager and personal assistant.
“l am pleased to inform Your Excellency that, as part of the agreement 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, in 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, January 4, 2024. He will be accompanied by his office manager and personal assistant,” the letter States.
The ECOWAS Commission outlined specific provisions for the former president upon his departure from Sierra Leone. These include the discontinuation of all legal and administrative procedures against him by the Government of Sierra Leone, continued disbursement of his benefits as a former President, securing his residences in various locations within Sierra Leone, and consideration for the reimbursement of medical and travel expenses he has incurred.
“The Government of Sierra Leone will discontinue all legal and administrative procedures against him;
. The Government of Sierra Leone will also continue to disburse to him his benefits as former President;
.The Government of Sierra Leone will secure his residences in the various locations in Sierra Leone:
.The Government of Sierra Leone will consider refunding medical and travel expenses he has incurred,” it stated.
This development follows reports from the BBC indicating that Ernest Bai Koroma faces four counts of treason in connection with an attempted coup, resulting in his house arrest since the November 2023 attack.
In a Facebook post, journalist Umaru Fofana reported that Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister, Timothy Kabba, confirmed the receipt of a letter from the President of the ECOWAS Commission outlining plans for the temporary relocation of former President Ernest Bai Koroma, who is currently facing treason charges.
“Sierra Leone’s foreign minister, Timothy Kabba has confirmed receiving a letter written by the president of the ECOWAS Commission detailing arrangements to allow for the temporary relocation of former President Ernest Bai Koroma who now faces treason charges.” Fofana wrote on Facebook.
In the post, Fofana noted the that Kabba clarified that the government did not endorse the letter’s contents, labelling it a “unilateral proposition” by the ECOWAS Commission President.
Kabbah 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 the letter also “does not reflect the meeting His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio held recently in Freetown with his colleague West African leaders and the President of the ECOWAS Commission. So we will not countenance it”. Fofana wrote on Facebook.
As per the letter’s stipulations, Koroma was slated to be transported to Nigeria on January 4, with all legal and administrative proceedings against him dropped, allowing him to retain his full entitlements as a former President.