By: Lansana koroma
On Wednesday, July 17, 2024, Magistrate Santigie Bangura adjourned the treason case involving Ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma and the state to November 18, 2024. The adjournment occurred because the defense failed to produce the former president, who is currently in Nigeria for medical treatment.
The decision to adjourn came after it became clear that Koroma could not attend the court session on Wednesday. Following this development, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Osman I Kanu and defense counsel Saidu Bangura held a private meeting with Magistrate Bangura, after which the trial date was rescheduled.
Koroma faces four charges, including treason, misprision of treason, and two counts of harboring individuals accused of planning to overthrow the government between November 5 and November 26, 2023, in Sierra Leone. It is alleged that on November 29, 2023, in Makeni, Koroma concealed knowledge of plans by Soriba Mansaray, Ibrahim Thorlu Bangura, and Yapo Sesay to overthrow the government unlawfully.
On January 17, 2024, the High Court in Freetown, presided over by Justice Samuel Taylor, granted Koroma permission to travel to Nigeria for urgent medical treatment, following a successful bail review application by his legal team requesting a ninety-day medical leave extension. Koroma’s defense counsels had approached the High Court seeking an extension of his medical leave in Nigeria.
