**Former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma Returns Home Following Withdrawal of Treason Charges**
FREETOWN — Former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma has returned to Freetown after spending more than two years in Nigeria. His return follows the formal discontinuation of criminal proceedings against him by the Sierra Leonean government.
Mr. Koroma, who served as president from 2007 to 2018, had been living in Nigeria since January 2024. He was permitted to travel to Nigeria on medical grounds by a Sierra Leonean high court, despite facing charges of treason.
The charges stemmed from an alleged role in a failed military coup in November 2023, during which gunmen attacked military barracks and a prison, resulting in the release of approximately 2,200 inmates and the deaths of more than 20 people. Mr. Koroma consistently denied any involvement in the attempt to topple the government of President Julius Maada Bio. His legal team characterized the charges as “trumped up” and a “political vendetta.”
The indictment had previously raised concerns regarding political stability in Sierra Leone, particularly following the disputed 2023 general election in which President Bio secured a second term.
In July, Sierra Leone’s Attorney-General, Alpha Sesay, issued a public notice confirming that the criminal proceedings against Mr. Koroma had been discontinued and removed from the court’s docket. The notice further stated that all bail conditions imposed on the former president were terminated with immediate effect. The Attorney-General did not provide a specific reason for the decision to drop the case.
Mr. Koroma’s departure from Nigeria was facilitated by diplomatic efforts involving former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan. In a statement, Mr. Jonathan noted that he had worked with others to encourage dialogue with Sierra Leonean authorities to “create the conditions for his safe and dignified return.”
Mr. Koroma arrived in Freetown on Sunday via a presidential aircraft.
Article and image source: allafrica.com
