Treason is the most felonious offence known to the criminal law in various jurisdictions around the world.
By law, there is no second-degree offender for the offence of treason as all concerned are treated as principals in the first degree.
The mere knowledge that a coup is about to take place, and its concealment known as misprision makes one liable as a principal offender.
Treason involves the use of unlawful means to unseat a lawful government, and convicts face the gallows in countries that still retain the death penalty in their law books. No hope for clemency exists as presidents who are the key targets rarely pardon coup convicts.
No exception for Sierra Leone where treason is a capital offence except that the death penalty has been replaced with life imprisonment since the enactment of the Abolition of Death Penalty law.
The law provides that those convicted of treason spends the rest of their lives behind bars as is the case with retired major Koita and others who are currently in prison custody after their convictions in respect of the failed coup of November 26, 2023.
Dozens of serving soldiers and suspected coupists themselves lost their lives during an operation to counter the coup.
Key among those who were gunned down were Idris Hamid Kamara aka Leather Boot, Soriba and Kabba among others who were bodyguards of former President Ernest Koroma.
Fatalities on the military side were also heavy, with Lieutnant Colonel Samai being one of them.
However, one person, Ernest himself who is accused of financing the coup is treated as a sacred cow as he remains untouchable to date.
While those who executed the coup remain in prison cells, Ernest Koroma enjoys the light of day with the usual comfort and luxury of a former President, raising questions about such double standards in the enforcement of the law in Sierra Leone.
Koroma’s treason charges were recently dropped following a press release issued by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice on the eve of the hosting of the 69th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS in Sierra Leone with President Bio as the host.
The Press release of July, 2023 states that “treason charges against the former President have been dropped.”
Although the former President is still not completely free from arrest and prosecution, the press release means that he no longer has a case to answer in any court of law in Sierra Leone in respect of the November coup.
Ernest’s preferential treatment began in the manner of his arrest in the aftermath of the coup which threatened the nation’s stability.
Koroma was politely invited by the police three days after the failed coup and was brought to Freetown from his hometown of Makeni under a tight police and military protection.
On his way to Freetown to answer to the treason allegations, he cautioned all APC (All People’s Congress) supporters to remain calm and respect the due process. He was briefly interviewed at the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) in Freetown from where he was held under house-arrest for days in his family house at Goderich, far West of Freetown.
It was Koroma’s stay in Freetown that top SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) politicians and a huge number of South-Easterners urged President Bio to detain or even kill the former head of state while in prison custody.
But, Bio rebuffed such overtures to the amazement of his party comrades.
The calls for the death of the former President were intensified owing to the evils which were allegedly perpetrated during his regime especially the ravages of the Ebola epidemic which broke out in May, 2014.
A lot of South-Easterners doubted the real and genuine existence of Ebola as many held the belief that it was man-made, but the cost was deadly.
It therefore became clear that the arrest of the former President who allegedly singed for the entry of Ebola in Sierra Leone was definitely a moment of revenge.
Bio however defended his action of treating Ernest Koroma nicely despite the seriousness of the offence as the country’s former first gentleman by stating that he knew what was coming. But, in law, there is no gentle suspect.
Leaders of the sub-regional bloc, ECOWAS however intervened into the situation while the former President was due to make his second appearance before a magistrate court in Freetown holding preliminary investigation into the coup.
Koroma was flown out of the country to Nigeria and offered a villa in Abouja, Nigeria’s capital where he spent about three years before he returned to Sierra Leone.
Mixed feelings were held back home
While the former President was in Nigeria.
SLPP members, supporters and sympathisers feared that Ernest Koroma would mobilise ECOWAS leaders to go after Julius Maada Bio by advocating the deployment of ECOMOG forces to remove him from the presidency since it was reported that he did not win the June 24, 2023 presidential election.
President Bio was however complacent with the situation, but was nearly jolted out of his complacency when he was reminded of Koroma’s unforgiving tendencies.
APC members and supporters, on the other side, were elated when ex-President Koroma disembarked from the aircraft and got a red-carpet welcome. They hoped that Koroma would utilise his international clout and contact to push for a swift political transition on a scale equal to a military force that removed the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council in March, 1998.
Even if ECOMOG’s intervention in Sierra Leone is not on the Sani Abacha’s model, it must be in the mould of the one for the Gambia where Yayah Jammeh refused to step down after losing power, in 2016, to President Adama Barrow, then opposition leader.
Information about the deployment of EMOMOG in Sierra Leone was viral among the people of Sierra Leone while Ernest Koroma was in Nigeria.
But, ECOMOG’s proposed arrival to facilitate a political transition in Sierra Leone naturally died down, one of the factors why the people started losing confidence in the former President.
It is also the point where suspicion of a shady deal between Bio and Koroma began.
Throughout his stay in Nigeria, Ernest Koroma dined and wined with top-class dignitaries including former West African leaders and most times, spotted at parties and drinking sprees.
He commands great respect among West African leaders and is almost part of the delegations during ECOWAS conferences including the three-day summit hosted in Sierra Leone.
Although he is an iconic figure among the ranks of the ruling party, SLPP, Koroma’s respect within his party, APC is currently at an all-time low, and situation remains the same for his hometown of Makeni. The people displayed their hatred and grudge for the former President as they snubbed him while he was being hauled to his residence.
Koroma was deprived of the fanfare, pump and pageantry which he used to enjoy after the presidency as the turnout was low and the welcome low-key.
Only a handful of people including commercial motorists (okada riders) who were paid and fueled to come out in the streets.
Few days after his return to Sierra Leone, photos popped up on several media platforms showing beautiful smiles and strong handshakes between the duo, that is Bio and Koroma.
Such photos sent messages of peace, reconciliation and national cohesion, but the victims weep for justice this time.
In his discussion with President Bio, Ernest Koroma said he had forgiven the people of Sierra Leone for others to emulate.
But those who are well-informed and au fait with his diabolic plans, see the former head of state as one dabbling in hypocrisy.
Instead of repenting and craving forgiveness from the people of Sierra Leone for the wrongs he has committed, he carves a situation in which forgiveness should come from him.
The people are not moved or hoodwinked into his hoax, this time, as they want to see the end of impunity culture that is deeply ingrained among Sierra Leoneans especially those in high places.
Calls for the perpetrators of atrocities, human rights abuses and extra-judicial killings still echo throughout Sierra Leone including South-East regions, strongholds of the ruling party.
In a recent audio broadcast on several media platforms, a member of the Samai family wept for an inquest into the death of Lieutnant Colonel Samai with the hope of bringing the killers speedy to justice.
Lt. Colonel Samai fell in the hands of the coupists while on duty, and the death must no go unaccounted for.