By Janet A. Sesay
Inspector Ibrahim Bangura had on Monday, 7th April, 2025 testify in an open court before Magistrate Santigie Bangura that the accused, Ebude Chukwu Augustine Essay and other persons who are on the run defrauded complainant Nwaokoro the sum of Forty-Eight Thousand United States Dollars (USD 48,000) at the Nexus Lodge Hotel at Hill Station in Freetown on the pretext that they had two kilograms (2kg) of gold bar for sale.
Essay is standing trial before the court on two count charges of conspiracy to defraud contrary to law and causing money to be paid to another by means of fraud, contrary to Section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
The charge sheet indicates that the accused on a date between 1st and 19th March, 2025, at the Nexus Lodge Hotel at Hill Station in Freetown, conspired with Simeon Sankoh and other persons to commit a crime to wit causing money to be paid through fraudulent means.
The indictment furthers that Essay on the same day and place, fraudulently caused Destiny Mentor Nwaokoro to pay the sum of Forty-Eight Thousand United States Dollars (USD 48,000) equivalent to One Million, One Hundred and Fifty-Two Thousand New Leones (NLe 1,152,000.00) to Simeon Sankoh and Alpha who falsely pretended that they have two kilograms (2kg) of gold bar knowing same to be false.
In his testimony, the witness, Inspector Ibrahim Bangura recognized the complainant, Nwaokoro and also the accused, Essay.
He recalled on Wednesday, 19th March, 2025, that he was on duty at CID HQ when a fraud matter was reported to a team of investigators and he was the lead investigators in the matter. Witness Bangura said he obtained statements from the complainant and his witnesses.
Inspector Bangura said on Friday, 21st March, 2025, he and DPC 13821 A.A. proceeded to Basha at Wilkinson Road in Freetown where the accused was arrested and he was brought to the CID HQ, where voluntary caution statements were obtained from him in observance of the judge’s rules. The voluntary caution statements of accused Essay was tender before the court and was mark as Exhibit A1- 75.
The witness further explained that on Wednesday, 26th March, 2025, he charged the accused Essay with the offences of conspiracy to defraud and causing money to be paid to another by means of fraud. The charge statements of the accused Essay were also tendered before the court.
During cross-examination by the Defense Counsel, K. Turay, witness Bangura said he was the one who investigated the matter to the end and further told the court that during investigation certain names where mentioned it to him by the accused person.
He furthered that the names included Simeon Sankoh, Anthony, Alpha a worker at the National Minerals Agency, Allieu and David.
He was asked by the Defense Counsel Turay if he extended an invitation to the names he mentioned and he responded that he tried to call them on their cell phones but could not reach them, asserting that they could be on the run.
He was also asked by the Defense Counsel if the complainant met the accused person and the others physically, and he responded that the complainant said he met them physically even though he is partially blind.
Witness Bangura answering questions further said that during his investigation, the accused denied the allegation and further stated that he did not receive any money from the complainant.
He further said he was told during investigation that the transactions took place at Nexus Lodge Hotel at Hill Station but did not go to the hotel to investigate that aspect because the complainant was sick and hospitalized due to the shock.
At this juncture, Magistrate Bangura said the Defense Counsel will continue his cross examination at the next adjourned dates.
Defense counsel made bail application pursuant to Section 79(2) & (3) of the Criminal Procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
He furthered that even though the accused is a Nigerian but had sureties who are Sierra Leoneans.
He said the accused is a Nigerian but married to a Sierra Leonean woman, and that his client will not jump bail.
The Prosecutor, CPS Joan Bull objected to bail on the ground that the offense charge on the accused person is very serious and that the address of the accused is vague. Magistrate Bangura refused bail and the matter was adjourned to the 15 April 2025 for continuation.