Former Sierra Leone President Ernest Koroma has been granted permission by a Sierra Leone High Court to seek medical attention in Nigeria. This development comes as Mr. Koroma faces charges of treason against his country, misprision of treason, and harbouring suspects. He was later granted conditional bail, including restrictions on leaving his house without permission from the Inspector-General of Police.
Rumors have circulated that Mr. Koroma had agreed to go into exile in Nigeria if all charges against him were dropped. Anonymous sources from the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have claimed that a deal was brokered for Mr. Koroma to seek exile in Nigeria, with the supposed agreement allowing him to retain the privileges of a former president. However, Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister, Timothy Kabba, has rejected this proposal, labeling it as a “unilateral proposition” by the president of the ECOWAS Commission.
The Sierra Leone government had earlier announced that the hearing of the case against the former president would resume on January 17, with preparations to bring in witnesses.
Ernest Koroma served as president of Sierra Leone for 11 years until 2018, when he was succeeded by current President Julius Bio.
The controversy surrounding Mr. Koroma’s legal situation and the alleged exile agreement with Nigeria has drawn international attention. The intricate web of political and legal entanglements has placed the former president at the center of a contentious debate between domestic and international stakeholders. As Mr. Koroma seeks medical care in Nigeria, the specter of political dynamics and legal challenges continues to shadow his actions and decisions.
