By Sahr Eric George
In the ongoing treason trial connected to the November 2023 attack on military facilities, Detective Inspector Tamba Kasigbama presented crucial evidence implicating Amadu Koita, one of the accused persons.
During his testimony, Kasigbama revealed key details from Koita’s statement, obtained during the investigation. According to the statement, Koita admitted to participating in the attack on military installations, including the Cockeril headquarters.
Awoko reports that Kasigbama explained his connection with the fifth accused, Alimatu Hassan Bangura, stating that she was his colleague at the CID, attached to the West Africa Police Information System (WAPIS). During the investigation, it was discovered that Koita had visited Alimatu’s apartment in 2020 before traveling to the United Kingdom.
According to Kasigbama, Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) is one of the suspects involved in the court martial trial. The investigation revealed that Koita had been sending money to Sergeant Koroma for preparations for the coup.
Staff Sergeant Koroma informed investigators that Koita inquired if he was in control of arms and ammunition, to which he confirmed having eight rifles and 480 ammunitions. However, he expressed difficulty in moving the weapons.
Further revelations indicated that Koita and Mohamed Jalloh visited Pa Sesay, an herbalist, with funds sent for specific purposes related to the coup.
On page 27 of his statement, Koita mentioned that Sorieba, a guard at former President Ernest Bai Koroma’s house, was fatally injured at Wilberforce. He identified Leather Boot, as a former security personnel for President Koroma, who came from Guinea with Koita, and who was deployed at the joint logistic unit in Murray Town on November 25, 2023, but was subsequently killed.
Corporal Marrah, a serving member of RSLAF, was identified as the driver who transported the rifles to Lungi and is presently among those being tried by the military Court Martial. Koita in page 29 of his statement also confirmed his acquaintance with alias American, who is already facing a court martial.
The investigation indicated that Koita was part of the group that attacked military facilities, including the Cockeril military headquarters on Wilkinson Road in Freetown on November 26, 2023. He was found with a rifle at Wilberforce during the investigation.
Koita, along with Kabba Dumbuya, Staff Sergeant Abu Dauda, and others, was reportedly at the Pademba Road Correctional Centre on the day of the attack.
The court martial suspects, Sergeant Conteh and Chernor bah, were allegedly killed during the assault by the assailants who attacked Cockeril. Lieutenant Colonel Sami was shot at Murray Town junction by the assailants. Kasigbama disclosed that Koita, together with Staff Sergeant Dauda and Ibrahim Bundu, carried away weapons from the Wilberforce military barracks on the day of the attack, but they were unable to break into the arms and ammunition store at Cockeril.
He revealed that footage from correctional centres was retrieved for analysis, they watched it to aid their investigation and made screenshots. Koita’s phone was taken from him at the CID and given to the cyber unit for analysis and certain relevant materials were extracted upon his arrest on December 4, 2023, and he was charged to court after the analysis.
Under cross-examination, by F. Mansaray lawyer for the second accused Mohamed Jalloh, Kasigbama confirmed his role in the investigation and interactions with Mohamed Jalloh, denying involvement in questioning him. He affirmed that Jalloh had stated he went with Koita to Matekeh Village.
Representatives for the accused inquired about phone verification for Koita, to which Kasigbama responded negatively. He confirmed Koita’s acknowledgment of being in the area of Alimatu in 2020 but not inside her house.
Kasigbama clarified that he received Koita’s Samsung galaxy 23+ phone from Detective Superintendent Alusine Dumbuya and recorded Koita’s statement during the evening of December 4, 2023.
The court adjourned, sending all accused persons back to remand.
