Former Sierra Leone President Koroma sent to Nigeria for medical attention

Free Town, Sierra Leone – Ernest Bai Koroma, the former president who is accused of treason, has been given permission by a Sierra Leonean court to seek medical attention overseas. The 70-year-old Koroma was accused of taking part in a botched military operation to overthrow the nation’s government in November 2023, and at the beginning of this month, he was charged with four charges.

The High Court ruled in favor of Koroma on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, following his attorneys’ appeal for authorization to send the former leader abroad for medical treatment.

The magistrate announced that the former president, who has been placed under house arrest, will be allowed to travel to Nigeria for a maximum of three months before adjourning the hearing until March 6, 2024.

According to Al Jazeera, Chernor Bah, Sierra Leone’s minister of information, said, “We are happy to abide by the ruling of the court because we believe in the rule of law. Koroma is leaving for medical attention, but his case remains open. At this stage, the case is still alive. It is adjourned, and the court’s instructions to the lawyers included continuing to send updates on Koroma’s health to the state and the judiciary for the duration of his absence.

The biggest regional organization in West Africa claimed that Koroma had already accepted Nigeria’s offer of temporary admission.

Later, the government claimed that Koroma’s bodyguards were responsible for the majority of the coup attempt. They summoned the former president for questioning on December 1, 2024, and on January 3, 2024, they made treasonous accusations against him.

Photo credit: GETTY IMAGE