After weeks of controversies, Former President Ernest Bai Koroma is now allowed to leave Sierra Leone for Abuja in Nigeria according to an order issued by a magistrate court in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown.
Thanks to the sub regional bloc, ECOWAS (Economic Community Of West African States) whose officials have been behind government to allow a temporal relocation of the former President.
His departure from the country followed an application made by his defence counsel, Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara on medical grounds.
Court records show that the ex-prexy would spend just a month in the Nigerian capital although many doubt his return to a country that is being torn apart by intermittent waves of political violence and thuggery.
The former President was recently charged with treason following armed attacks on police and military facilities in Freetown during which a large cache of arms and ammunition were reportedly carted away.
Prior to his appearance in court, the former President was placed under house arrest after a 40-hour interrogation by the Criminal Investigation Department.
Koroma while in custody could not move out of the house without recourse to the police chief, and the number of visitors is tightly restricted.
He was granted bail after his first appearance but a general feeling that Koroma would be jailed in coming days had been filtering through the public with its negative impact on national peace and security.
The act was initially tagged as “a security breach” by President Julius Maada Bio and his ministers, but later referred to as an “attempted coup” prompting the arrest of dozens of soldiers and civilians including the former Head of State.
But, the coup claims have been much in doubt despite the euphoria it initially generated.
Speaking to this press via mobile phone, Counsel Kamara said “logistics arrangement is being made for the former President to depart Sierra Leone,” but declined to comment further on the former President’s proposed trip.
27 soldiers of the Sierra Leonean army are also answering to criminal charges at a Court Martial in Freetown, and one of them has pleaded guilty, and awaits a pronouncement for life imprisonment, the longest sentence that will be handed down by the Bio regime.
Treason is one of the highest criminal offences known to the criminal law, and Koroma’s trial will continue in absentia according to the prosecution team. However, intense debates about the real facts on the former President’s health with many saying he is in good form.
Credible sources said President Julius Maada Bio is under tough pressure by the sub regional bloc, ECOWAS (Economic Community Of West African States) to let go the former President for Sierra Leone not to go back to another conflict.
Almost two weeks back, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Allieu Touray requested president Bio to allow a temporal relocation of ex-President Koroma and all cases dropped, assets protected and benefits paid to him.
The request was turned down by President Bio through his Foreign Affairs minister, Timothy Kabba saying the request did not represent the collective stance of ECOWAS.
Kabba also said the request was not part of the discussion between President Bio and the two West African leaders who recently visited Sierra Leone in respect of the ongoing treason trial of the ex-Head of State.
Senegalese and Ghanian Presidents Macky Sall and Nana Akufor Addo recently met President Bio and held discussions for the temporal relocation of the former President who was in detention.
ECOWAS was however initially disappointed when their call for the former President to leave the country was rejected, but a sudden twist in government’s decision represents a good move.
ECOWAS is not alone in the struggle to ensure Koroma’s safety from Bio’s tyrannical rule.
Leaders of the Brenthurst Foundation, an association of former African leaders also recently called on President Bio to release the former President to ensure peace and stability of Sierra Leone.
A document seen by this press show some amount of doubt held by the former African leaders about Koroma’s involvement in any coup.
The United States Embassy in Freetown also held similar doubt about the coup allegation which came in the wake of a probe to be held by an Election Investigation Committee (EIC) in respect of marked irregularities of the June 24, 2023 elections whose stalemate is undermining the country’s security.
Koroma who is currently being tried for corruption has ruled Sierra Leone two times in a row. Sierra Leone rose to higher heights under his leadership through hard work, discipline and a determination to transform the country.
It was under his rule that Sierra Leone saw a 24-hour power supply countrywide, network of good roads, Free Healthcare service for pregnant women, under-five children and lactating mothers, thousands of jobs for jobless men and women in Sierra Leone and the list is endless.
An improved economy was also ensured by the former President as Sierra Leone was rated the fastest growing economy in 2013, the first year of Ernest’s second term.
Koroma’s tolerance to opposition politicians including the current President was one without parallel. He would pay regular visits to SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) headquarters in Freetown to talk to political opponents and to identify areas of cooperation.
The former President would also offer some allowances and stipends to opposition politicians and enlist them in national development initiatives for the common good.
When Ebola struck Sierra Leone in May, 2014, ex-President Koroma invited SLPP politicians including President Bio who was reportedly entrusted with hundreds of thousands of dollars to take anti-Ebola campaign messages to his people in the South-East regions.
Koroma even backed his successor, Bio when senior SLPP politicians resisted against Bio’s leadership of the party after he lost the 2012 elections.
Prior to its manipulation, the old SLPP Constitution said in one of its clauses that presidential candidate who contests and loses elections once becomes an ex-officio which means he could no longer take an active part in the running of the party.
It was this clause that affected Vice President, Solomon Berewa after he lost to former President Koroma in 2007.
The glorious achievements did not stop the former President from handing over power to his successor, President Bio after his party was defeated.
He hardened himself against the taunts and provocation of his party members who felt betrayed by the former President.
Koroma who was dubbed ‘World Best’ during his presidency left the stage at a time the people of Sierra Leone love him most. He fits into the adage that says ‘the art of being a good guest is knowing when to leave.’
Koroma became more useful when he left the presidency than when he was there as he was appointed AU/ECOWAS Chief Election Observer.
In such capacity, the former President immensely contributed to democracy and peace in Africa by observing elections such countries as Togo, Namibia, Zambia, Nigeria, Kenya among others.
Koroma would take credit for the peace that reigned after the elections. However, he is less recognised back home as a prophet has no honour in his home town.