After two consecutive terms in office, former President Koroma has been called to dock to allegations of corruption. Former President Koroma governed Sierra Leone between 2007 and 2018, a period in which Sierra Leone enjoyed great investment and donor funding. His appearance should not be interpreted as a witch hunt but a form of democratic accountability, a contemporary measure to end corruption in public service.
The dock is a mark of ideal platform for the former President to render account of his stewardship to the nation. In a White Paper released by government following the recommendations of the defunct Commissions of Inquiry, the former President was accused to have misappropriated billions of Leones while in office. The money alleged to have been stolen was too huge for a weak economy like Sierra Leone.
But, defence lawyers of the former President have always refuted the allegations saying they are made-up and politically motivated. They argue that the allegations against the former President had the potential to shut down APC, the arch-rival to the SLPP. The former President himself has, on several occasions, maintained his innocence.
In a recently leaked audio of a conversation between the former President and the Inspector-General of Police, Ernest Koroma said he had answers to all questions in respect of the allegations of corruption made against him. He said he had governed Sierra Leone twice, and had worked for the peace and security of the state noting that he would not embark on any action that reverse gains made. Former President Koroma made Sierra Leone believe his statement when he appeared twice before the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission for interviews with no specific offence.
But, after months, the former President put out a press release warning the Bio administration that he would no longer accept harassment and intimidation on his person. He further claimed that the contemptuous attitude of the Bio administration towards him would make it very difficult for incumbent to hand over power to opposition parties in Africa. The indictment of former President Koroma for corruption related offences has sparked hot debates among members of the public.
A great many Sierra Leoneans said the former President was the cleanest President in Africa.
But, others argued that corruption on a grand scale took place in the Koroma-led government and must face the music. Other side of the argument holds that should the former President appear for corruption, he would go down in history as the first to be held accountable for corruption. The Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991 grants absolute immunity on any person occupying Office of the President in respect of anything done by him in his official or private capacity.
But, the constitutional protection ceases to exist after he leaves power. Late President Ahmed Tejan Kabba was placed in the dock as a witness in the war crimes trial at the defunct Special Court for Sierra Leone.
SCSL was set up by UN Security Council Resolution 1315 through a request made by the late President. The court was charged with the responsibility of bringing to justice those who bear the greatest responsibility for the country’s civil war.
In spite of the aura that surrounded him as a former President, Tejan Kabba appeared before the court to explain what he knew as a witness. Tejan Kabba was Minister of Defence and Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces. He was also the highest authority of Sierra Leone’s Civil Defence Force at that time.
In his testimony, Tejan Kabba did not implicate himself and came out clean. Outside Sierra Leone, a number of former Presidents are battling with corruption allegations in courts. Some former presidents have been convicted and sentenced for fixed jail terms while others are still wrestling with the allegations.
In France, former President Nicholas Sakorzy has been convicted of corruption, and now behind bars. Former President of Brazil, Sylvia Barlesconi has also joined the ranks of corruption convicts.
She too is in custody after her conviction.
In Africa, former presidents who accused to have borne a hand in the loot also face corruption trials in their own countries. Former South African President, Jacob Zuma is also facing corruption trial in his country.
The former President would definitely be placed in prison custody if evidence of corruption is found against him by the court. Zambia’s former President, Frederick Cheluba also wrestled in the law court for years with corruption allegations.
The question now asked by many Sierra Leoneans is what holds back the New Direction Government from placing the former President in the dock. Sierra Leone is a state with a standing police and army.
The two forces exist to back up government in the enforcement of laws and government policies. The two forces are directly answerable to any person sitting as President for the time being.
Considering the powers vested on the President to enforce laws on behalf of the people of Sierra Leone, no reason exists as to why the President should not be brought to the court.
The commissions of Inquiry from where government’s White Paper emanated traced its root to a Governance Transition Team (GTT) report authored by Professor David Francis and Team. The report indicated that Sierra Leone, under President Koroma, incurred the highest debt ever recorded since independence.
The debts, foreign and domestic, ran into billions of United States dollars owing to alleged mismanagement of state finances. The mismanagement, according to the report, placed Sierra Leone on the edge of economic implosion. The appalling economic situation formed the basis for the formation of the Commissions of Inquiry.
The commissions enjoyed little support among the main opposition, APC which formed the previous government. Opposition politicians have always maintained that the commissions are illegal.
They premise their arguments on the lack of rules to regulate the commissions. A key defence lawyer for persons of interest, on several occasions, had challenged the legality and jurisdiction of the commissions at the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone. The nucleus of the argument holds that if former Presidents of great countries are arraigned for corruption, why not former President Ernest Bai Koroma.
Sierra Leone waits and watches if the Bio administration would allow the will of the former President to prevail upon the laws of the land.