Freetown, September 24, 2024 – In the ongoing court martial trial of Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma and 26 others, new evidence has revealed that Amadu Koita was positioned to become the Head of State if the bloody November 26 coup had been successful.
This revelation came to light during the presentation of both pictorial and audio evidence by the Prosecution.
The evidence places Sergeant Fofanah Kemoh, the 20th accused, at the heart of the conspiracy. A photograph presented during the trial showed Kemoh alongside Koita and others in Mapaki Village, taken before the coup attempt. When questioned, Kemoh denied being in the photo but admitted to recognizing Amadu Koita.
In audio evidence submitted by the Prosecution, Kemoh referred to Koita as “Supremo” – a military term signifying “President.”
In one recording, Kemoh can be heard reporting operational updates to Koita, saying, “Supremo, I have made two attempts to move towards the place [the armoury] but the men [loyal troops] are still firing towards me. I have my weapon with me, so I want to wait until first light. Please, whenever I call, pick your call. They intend to mobilize men. If they do so, I will inform you immediately.”
The use of “Supremo” in the audio evidence was a strong indication that Amadu Koita was set to assume power had the coup succeeded.
“If the coup had gone as planned, Koita would have emerged as the new President of Sierra Leone,” a source close to the trial confirmed.
Supporting this narrative, Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma, the first accused, corroborated the plan in his voluntary statement to authorities.
“In October last year, I received a phone call from Amadu Koita. He told me about his plan to overthrow President Bio and disclosed that he would become the next President of Sierra Leone if the coup succeeded,” Koroma confessed.
The court martial trial concluded last month with the 20th accused, Sergeant Fofanah Kemoh, receiving a maximum sentence of 120 years after being convicted on multiple charges, including mutiny, conspiracy to commit mutiny, murder, and communicating with the enemy.
The evidence presented, which included the phone records and messages retrieved from Koita’s phone after his arrest, has provided critical insights into the coup’s organization and the individuals behind it.
Major Yayah Brima, Media Operations Officer for the Joint Force Command, confirmed that the trial is continuing as further details emerge about the coup plot.
