United Bank for Africa (UBA) Sierra Leone has applauded the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Judiciary for successfully prosecuting and securing the conviction of its former Head of Operations, Frederick Caulker, in a major financial misconduct case.
In a statement issued following the conclusion of the trial, UBA Sierra Leone’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Alhajie Samoura, commended both institutions for what he described as a prompt, professional, and decisive handling of the matter.
His remarks followed an official communication from the ACC dated 19 January 2026, confirming the outcome of the case.
Caulker, a resident of 38A Taylor Street, Wellington, Freetown, was found guilty on four counts of corruption involving the diversion of NLe 1.98 billion meant for the National Revenue Authority (NRA). The funds, consisting of PAYE and withholding taxes paid by the Small Holder Commercialisation Agribusiness Development Project (SCADeP), were unlawfully transferred from the NRA-designated account while he was serving as Head of Operations at UBA.
Investigations revealed that after the bank detected and reported the irregular transactions, Caulker fled the country to the United States, where his family had relocated. Despite his absence, the ACC proceeded with the case and secured a conviction.
The presiding judge sentenced Caulker to a total of 40 years in prison—10 years on each count, to run consecutively. In the alternative, the court imposed a fine of NLe 100,000 per count, amounting to NLe 400,000, and ordered the full restitution of NLe 1,980,233.40 to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala, reacting to the judgment on social media, reiterated the Commission’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, stating that the convicted former banker would not be allowed to benefit from his actions.
He further disclosed that steps were underway to secure Caulker’s arrest and extradition, as well as to dispose of his Wellington property, which had been falsely claimed by his father.
Reaffirming UBA’s commitment to transparency and strong corporate governance, Samoura noted that the bank’s early reporting of the anomaly was key to the successful prosecution.
He said the verdict underscores the effectiveness of UBA’s internal controls and its firm position that integrity and accountability remain non-negotiable.
The conviction is widely seen as a significant boost to ongoing efforts to protect public revenue and strengthen accountability within Sierra Leone’s financial sector.
