As he was due to appear in the Freetown Criminal Court on Wednesday 17 January for his alleged role in the November 26 coup attempt, Ernest Bai Koroma’s lawyers filed a parallel application in the High Court seeking his release on bail, which was granted. .
Published on: 17.01.2024 – 22:51
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After a long day of waiting, the High Court finally ruled in favor of the defence. Ernest Bai Koroma’s lawyers had cited the state of health of the 70-year-old former head of state, requesting his transfer to Nigeria for medical treatment. The Court’s green light therefore puts an end to the six weeks of house arrest for the former president. ECOWAS has also been fighting in this direction for several weeks.
This decision raises questions about the continuation of the trial. According to our sources, the former head of state has been authorized to leave the country for 90 days.
Read alsoSierra Leone: 27 soldiers court-martialed for attempted coup d’état
On January 3, Ernest Bai Koroma was charged with four crimes, including treason and concealment of treason, in connection with the November 26 coup attempt. Events that caused more than 20 deaths. The man who governed Sierra Leone from 2007 to 2018 denies any responsibility. His trial takes place in a tense context. Freetown is still marked by a political crisis following the disputed re-election of President Julius Maada Bio. Koroma’s lawyers report a” political process » against their client: “ a democratically elected former head of state » and accuse Maada Bio of “ create a dangerous precedent ».
ECOWAS diplomatic efforts
The suspension of the trial against the former president is also a victory for ECOWAS, which has been intensifying its diplomatic efforts for several weeks. In one month, ECOWAS made two visits to Sierra Leone. The last one was January 11th. The President of the Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, went there to discuss with the government the temporary exile of the former president in Nigeria.
This same objective was already on the agenda on December 23, when an ECOWAS delegation, led by the Senegalese and Ghanaian presidents, met with Ernest Bai Koroma and current President Julius Maada Bio. It must be said that the fate of the former head of state worries the regional bloc, eager to avoid further instability in the region after the increase in coups.
For experts, Ernest Bai Koroma’s transfer out of the country would ease the tensions of recent months. They say the legal proceedings against him and other opponents have fueled feelings of persecution of the opposition among some Sierra Leoneans.
As a sign of these tensions, the Sierra Leonean press reported on Wednesday possible demonstrations against the government, raising fears of further excesses. Security forces have been deployed in the capital. During its last summit, the Cédao announced the deployment of a stabilization force “ to ensure the protection of peace “. It should be operational in the next few days.
2024-01-17 21:51:32
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