Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, the ex-President of Sierra Leone, is set to arrive in Nigeria on Thursday amidst allegations of his involvement in a failed coup d’etat.
The charges, including treason and misprision of treason, were officially filed in a Sierra Leonean court on Wednesday, January 3, 2024.
The Sierra Leonean Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, issued a signed public notice confirming Koroma’s imminent arrival in Nigeria. The notice outlined the charges against him, revealing that he stands accused of harboring as well.
However, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has stepped in, securing political asylum for Koroma in Nigeria.
A letter from the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, addressed to Sierra Leone’s present President, Julius Bio, explicitly requested the temporary relocation of the former President to Abuja.
The letter, dated January 2, 2024, also included copies to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, and Sierra Leonean President Macky Sall.
This development adds a new layer of complexity to regional politics, as Koroma seeks refuge in Nigeria amidst serious charges back home.
Nigeria has previously hosted:
- Former President Siad Barre of Somalia (died in Lagos on Jan 2, 1995)
- Yormie Johnson, Liberian warlord who captured and killed President Samuel Doe (lived in Nigeria 1992 to 2004).
- Former President Charles Taylor of Liberia (lived in Calabar, 2003 to 2006)
